98 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. Ill 



*■ SILVESTER DIGGLES, ORNITHOLOGIST. 

 By Gregory M. Mathews. 



In this Record I have previously endeavoured to elucidate 

 the writings of Silvester Diggles, and to a great extent, 

 through the co-operation of many friends, have been successful. 

 I now propose to place here the facts concerning the life- 

 history of this little-known worker. 



Silvester Diggles was born (at Liverpool, England) on 

 January 24, 1817. He was married at Liverpool to Miss Eliza 

 Bradley, daughter of John Bradley, Classical Tutor and 

 Lecturer on Natural Philosophy, of Windsor, Liverpool, on 

 May 22, 1839. Three children were born, one son and two 

 daughters, and apparently they lived quietly in England until 

 the year 1853. I have recovered no details concerning this 

 time, but in June, 1853, the family emigrated to Australia. 

 They travelled in the Barque " William Ernst," and arrived 

 in Sydney, New South Wales, in November ; they stayed in 

 that city for about a year and then removed to Brisbane, 

 Queensland, where the rest of Diggles' life was spent. 



Diggles must have been interested in Natural History at an 

 early age and it is possible his knowledge was extended 

 through his acquaintance with his wife and father-in-law. 

 At any rate he was an artist born and his pencil was cleverly 

 utilised in the delineation of Natural History objects. 



I have before me a sketch-book covering the objects met 

 with on the voyage out and certain items just after he landed. 

 As an enumeration will lead to a better appreciation of the 

 ability of this little-understood man, I here give some details. 



The first drawing is of a Medusa " met with in great numbers 

 near Lisbon, June 21, 1853." The second is a picture of 

 " The Deck, 1st July." Then follows another Medusa, a 

 Portuguese Man-of-War, a third Medusa painted in three 

 positions and a portion of the " Marginal Tentacle Magnified 

 16 Diams." These sketches are excellent in design,. coloring 



