WHITE — A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White. 99 



gome of them have large blossoms, a foot long, others were 

 small, but exquisitely beautiful. I did not see any birds. 



Next day, as the 'Bangalori' had not arrived, I made an ex- 

 cursion in' the opposite direction to the route taken the pre- 

 vious day. Had not gone far when a magnificent calestemon 

 was discovered in full bloom. It really looked beautiful, with 

 its profusion of flame-coloured or orange-scarlet-blossoms. The 

 fcountry seemed of the same poor description. A few casua- 

 rina were seen about 20 feet high. I am told that this 

 tree grows in good soil very tall, with straight boles four or 

 five feet in diameter. No birds were seen, Getting wet 

 through returned to the settlement. I find there is a brisk 

 trade doing here in curiosities, such as cockatoos, rugs, skins, 

 black-fellows' implements, quondong stones, anything for 

 money without much trouble." Notes further on speak of sea- 

 birds occasionally seen, and of many tropical birds of Ceylon, 

 where the ship called, then he speaks of numerous kites at 

 Aden, which were likened to our Milvus affirms, with a note 

 stating that the call of both birds is similar. Passengers left 

 the steamer at Suez in those days, and took train to Alexan- 

 dria, to again board a steamer ,f or Europe. In his notes Sam- 

 ,uel White regrets taking the rail journey by night, for he only 

 saw about thirty miles of the country after daylight, and 

 speaks of a light grey bird with white tails ; also of the crops 

 of the surrounding country being taken off on camels, and 

 square plots being flooded in for rice cultivation. He did not 

 remain long in England, but while there, independent of his 

 business, he spent some time with the bird men of the old 

 -country, and at the British Museum. After Samuel White 

 returned a few years elapsed before he took another big trip, 

 but we know that during that time, he was putting in much 

 good ornithological work. He had always a yacht in commis- 

 sion, and if not making trips inland with a covered van, con- 

 structed for the purpose, he was cruising amongst the islands 

 off the Australian coastline. In these trips his wife and family 

 accompanied him. During all this time he was building up a 

 wonderful collection of bird skins, and a knowledge of Aus- 

 tralian birds not yet equalled by any field worker in the world. 

 An ardent ornithologist in those days worked alone, for he 

 was looked upon by the average man as being deficient in in- 

 tellect. There was no assistance or encouragement from scien- 

 tific bodies, but for all that the subject of this sketch was so 

 engrossed with the wonderful science of ornithology that it 

 was his one great aim in life, an ever absorbing hobby. 



