CHAPTER XIII 



LANGUAGES AND WOEDS 



The labour which Newton devoted to the recording and 

 identification of specimens for the Museum was equalled 

 or even surpassed by the industry of his researches in 

 the history of Ornithology and the meaning of names. 

 The most casual perusal of the " Dictionary of Birds " will 

 show that it is a mass of information with hardly a 

 redundant sentence. The Introduction, in particular, 

 which contains a history and a general survey of the 

 science of Ornithology, is evidence of a rare and wide 

 learning. From his undergraduate days Newton had 

 taken an interest in Scandinelvian tongues, his knowledge 

 of which improved during his visits to Norway and^ 

 Sweden, and to these he added a considerable knowledge 

 of Anglo-Saxon. The present biographer wrote to 

 Professor Skeat asking for some account of Newton as a 

 student of languages and received the following letter in 

 reply :— 



Cambridge, 



June 25/09. 



Dear Sir, 



I am quite grieved to find that I am unable to 

 help you. I spend much time in helping others — ^they 

 are quite welcome always. 



But unfortunately I have not kept Professor Newton's 

 most useful letters. I used the information, all the same ! 



But you can say this : — 



When I returned to Cambridge in 1864, I was 

 extremely desirous of learaoing Anglo-Saxon, but knew 



220 



