Obituary Notice of Mr George Shield. 183 



one specimen of the Peregrine's eggs ; but alas ! tlie nest 

 had been previously robbed by a ruthless town collector, who, 

 for a number of seasons had carried off the eggs or young of 

 these handsome, but now rare birds. Mr Shield had acquired a 

 knowledge of science generally, and I am informed had delivered 

 numerous lectures to the Mechanics' Institute of Wooler, on such 

 subjects as "Astronomy," ''Electricity," " Eaces of Men," and 

 ''Geology." [He communicated several hints to his friend, Mr 

 Mackay Wilson, which are embodied in his well-known " Tales 

 of the Borders."] 



For some time he was engaged in writing an " Exposition of 

 the Prophecies of Daniel and St. John," but none of his papers 

 have been published. This work, regarding which I have fre- 

 quently talked with him, showed much ingenuity and research, 

 but might not agree with the views of all who have made that 

 subject a study. 



George Shield was possessed of a refined taste, gentle manner, 

 and a most obliging disposition. His health, which was never 

 robust, became impaired towards the end of his life-time by fre- 

 quent attacks of rheumatism, the result of his early adventures ; 

 but a severe attack of cold, during which he superintended the 

 decorations for a large public dinner in "Wooler, seems to have 

 accelerated his end. He died on the 29th January last, in the 

 76th year of his age. His keen and suggestive intellect seemed 

 to me admirably adapted for chemical investigation, in which 

 branch of science I have no doubt, he would have attained to 

 eminence ; but his greatest effort was in the line of ornithology, 

 for which too much had just been accomplished, by an able and 

 more wealthy contemporary, to leave him a chance of authorship. 



His six plates are the size of life, and are — 1. The Peregrine 

 Falcon; 2. The Water Hens; 3. The Eough-legged Buzzard; 

 4. The Titmouse and Finches; 5. The Cormorant; 6. Black- 

 birds and Thrush. 



G. P. H. 



17th July, 1880. 



