228 EARLY ANNALS OF ORNITHOLOGY 
til en Islandsk Naturhistorie” (1786), in both of which it 
is cited. It is easy to understand how Gan, Jan or John 
would be selected as a common Christian name by seafaring 
men, who are never slow in applying a nick-name; indeed 
there are several such instances in Ornithology.* 
1726-98. THomas PENNANT. 
By far the best authority to consult about birds in the 
eighteenth century, so far as Great Britain is concerned, 
although it has been the fashion to underrate him, is Thomas 
Pennant. A man of great natural ability, he did more to 
advance zoology in this country from a scientific point of 
view than anyone else, while to Gilbert White of Selborne 
is due the great merit of popularising it. Gilbert White’s 
correspondence we fortunately have, and very pleasant and 
instructive reading the public have always found it to be, 
but the numerous letters which Pennant must have written 
in reply to the parson of Hampshire are lost, a circumstance 
greatly to be regretted.t 
No student of this period can go wrong in turning to 
Pennant’s ‘“ British Zoology,” his chief, as it was his earliest, 
literary effort. It was begun, the author tells us, in 1761, 
possibly at the solicitation of the great Linneeus, with whom 
he had been in correspondence, and by whom he had been 
elected to the Royal Society of Upsal in 1757, an event which 
he regarded as the greatest honour of his life.t 
Pennant’s careful pages will always repay perusal, if 
read in the light of what is now known about British birds. 
A useful comparison may also be drawn between the list of 
British birds which he has given in an appendix,§ and a 
similar list drawn up by John Ray at the end of the seven- 
teenth century. || 
* Guillemot is said to be derived from the French Guillaume, and 
“ Willock,” an appellation for the same bird, from Willdam, 
t At a meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, held in ° 
February, 1914, Mr. O. H. Wild exhibited a copy of Pennant’s “ British 
Zoology,” bearing the following inscription in the first volume: ‘‘ Gil. White, 
May 4, 1768. The gift of the author.’ An interesting relic of their former 
friendship. 
i‘ Literary Life of the late Thomas Pennant,” p. 2. 
§ ‘‘ British Zoology,” vol. II., pp. 731-749. 
|| ‘‘ Ornithologiz Libri Tres.”’ (1676), p. 17. 
