to the scientific stafFof Scott's first Antarctic Expedition (i 901-4), 

 for which one alone could be accepted. To the rejected applicant 

 fell the consolation of compiling for the use of his successful 

 "rival" the chapter on seals in the Antarctic Manua/ (igoi). 



We considered ourselves exceptionally fortunate when Wilson 

 found himself able to undertake the work, and he threw himself 

 into it with all the ardour and enthusiasm of the simple-minded 

 naturalist that he was. The "free hand," so often longed for, 

 so rarely permitted, was granted, the result being a long series 

 of drawings which we contend mark a new epoch in the illus- 

 tration of a British book of the present class. The only cause 

 for regret is that the processes of reproduction have toned down 

 Wilson's colour, always his strong point. So keen was he about 

 his illustrations, that he made a special journey to Shetland to 

 study whales at the whaling stations ; and he confidently hoped 

 to bring back from his long voyage to the Antarctic much 

 new information to form the basis of further illustrations of 

 the Cetacea. 



On Wilson's second departure to the Antarctic a few draw- 

 ings were still wanting to finish the scheme, and we think we 

 may congratulate ourselves on having secured Mr Guy Dollmann, 

 of the British Museum of Natural History, to complete the 

 task. Mr M. A. C. Hinton has also supplied many technical 

 drawings, his unique knowledge of the skulls and teeth of our 

 extinct micromammalia making his work peculiarly valuable. 



Of the man Wilson we say little, as he himself would 

 undoubtedly have wished. Simplicity, straightforwardness, 

 patience, enthusiasm, were all strong points in his character. 

 One could not associate with him without feeling that one had 

 gained something. While his natural breadth of mind must 

 sometimes have revolted against the minute detail inseparable 

 from mammalogy, he yet lavished the most careful attention on 

 the numerous technical diagrams, to master the meaning of 

 which meant much study on what was to him a novel subject. A 

 dreamer of great dreams, it was sometimes necessary to call 



