Vol. xxv.] 46 



Society'/ and f The Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History.' 



In 1885 Dr. Sharpe was sent to India, at the special 

 request of Mr. A. O. Hume, to superintend the transport of 

 the unrivalled collection of Indian birds and mammals which 

 had been presented to the British Museum by that gentleman. 

 It contained 63,000 birds, 18,500 eggs, and 500 mammals, 

 all of which were safely packed and brought to South 

 Kensington, a work of no slight difficulty. During his 

 absence the writer was placed in charge of the Bird-Room 

 and since that date had been closely associated with 

 Dr. Sharpe up to the time of his death : he can therefore 

 testify to the fact that the increase and welfare of the Collec- 

 tion of Birds were always Dr. Sharpens fir^t thought, and 

 he can recollect how, in many instances, when funds were 

 not forthcoming for acquiring valuable specimens, his late 

 colleague purchased them and gave them to the Museum. 



He was also instrumental in getting many great and 

 valuable collections presented to the Nation, for the donors 

 knew that under his charge the specimens would receive the 

 utmost care and be properly dealt with. To give some idea 

 of how the collection increased since he was appointed, I 

 may mention that in 1872 the total number of Birds and 

 Eggs probably did not exceed 30,000, while at the present 

 time they must number more than 500,000. 



Dr. Sharpe was elected a Member of the British Orni- 

 thologists' Union in 1871, and since that date he had been 

 one of its most active supporters and a frequent contributor 

 to its journal, ' The Ibis.' In 1892 he founded the " British 

 Ornithologists' Club," so that evening meetings might be 

 held once a month from October to June, to promote the 

 discussion of subjects of general interest and to enable 

 members and foreign visitors to exhibit rare and interesting 

 specimens of birds from all parts of the world. The scheme 

 proved an immense success from its commencement, and 

 the proceedings are published in a special ' Bulletin/ which 

 was for many years edited by Dr. Sharpe. 



Between 1899 and 1909 Dr. Sharpe compiled a ' Hand-list 



