q 



176 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol IV. 



CAPTAIN THOMAS BROWN, ORNITHOLOGIST. 



By Gregory M. Mathews and Tom Iredale. 



The name of Captain Thomas Brown (always use the Captain, 

 otherwise the name is not uncommon) is very familiar to one 

 of us, acquainted a little with conchological items. Conse- 

 quently the recognition that the Captain had also touched 

 upon ornithological writings was intriguing, as the Captain 

 V never dealt with a subject without introducing some novelty. 



As this is probably the first time Brown has been written 

 '/l^ about in connection with ornithology (but it will certainly 

 ' not be the last) it may be recorded that apparently he was 

 endowed with restless energy and ambition, but many of his 

 ideas never fructified. Further, the methods of pubhcation 

 of his conchological writings proved so complex that even the 

 indefatigable Sherboni, who probed into the matter, was 

 compelled to confess that finality had not been achieved in 

 his results. His ornithological writings promise even more 

 trouble, as already the few items met with have provided more 

 than their fair share of comphcations. 



Brown has been accused of piracy and anticipating other 

 people's suggestions , but we cannot altogether agree with this 

 view from the facts available. 



A not uncommon little book is entitled " The Miscellany / of / 

 Natural History. / Volume I. / Parrots. / By / Sir 

 Thomas Dick Lauder, Bart., F.R.S.E. / and Capt. Thomas 

 Brown, F.L.S. / The engravings / By Joseph B. Kidd, Esq. / 

 -Member of the Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture, / 

 and Architecture. / and this appeared in 1833. This is exactly 

 on the same pattern and style as the well-known Jardine's 

 Naturahst's Library, which appeared the same year. The 

 latter work was a great success, while Brown's never got 

 beyond this first volume. Possibly this note will bring forth 

 the facts concerning this supposed piracy, as the coinci- 

 dental issue is very remarkable and may be the source of the 

 accusation. 



