163 Notice of British Naturalists. 



of thought, he was unable to take a high stand in the scientific 

 world. He died in Cornwall, where he had chiefly resided, about 

 1834, at an advanced age. 



In 1802, appeared the " Ornithological Dictionary,''^ of that 

 most industrious observer and writer. Col. George Montague, of 

 Knoule House, Devonshire. We have in vain searched for any- 

 biographical notice or memoir of him ; and it is much to be de- 

 sired, if materials exist, that some account of his active and sci- 

 entific life might be given to the public. This work is only upon 

 British birds ; and the plan is well adapted for reference, as he 

 threw his materials into the form of an alphabetical catalogue. 

 He presents much original information, the greater part of which 

 he collected himself His object was to render the subject popu- 

 lar ; and he appears to have written expressly for " such as might 

 wade through columns, before they could find the object of their 

 inquiry, but who are desirous of being better acquainted with the 

 most beautiful part of the animal creation." He corresponded 

 with the most eminent naturalists of his day. He was the first 

 to observe, as British, several birds which had previously been 

 overlooked; among which we remark the MacrorampMis gris- 

 eiis,* [Leach.) of the United States and the Ardea lentiginosa^ 

 [Mont.) which naturalists have hitherto been in the habit of con- 

 sidering the Ardea minor, ( Wils.) likewise of this country. 



In 1813, Montague published a supplement to his dictionary, 

 which is nearly as large as the original book. But his great 

 work was that on British conchology, " Tesiacea Britannica, 

 or fiatural history of British shells, marine, land, and fresh 

 water, including the minute, &c," a quarto volume of upwards 

 of six hundred pages, and published in London, in 1803. This 

 is an invaluable work. As a describer of shells, he probably 

 stands at the head of English writers on the subject ; and his 

 book is still unsurpassed. He spared neither pains nor expense 

 in procuring specimens ; and he was enabled both to add many 

 new species, and clearly to distinguish between such as had hith- 

 erto been considered merely as varieties. In 1808, he published 

 a supplement, in which many new species are given. He fol- 

 lows in general, the Linnscan arrangement, but has made one new 



Scolopax Novoboroccnsis, (Wils.) — Eds. 



