162 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



never saw a museum in his life, nor possessed a modern handbook 

 of British birds until 1890. Yet he pursued Ornithology devotedly 

 and untiringly, and was one of the local authorities so often 

 quoted by William Thompson. No one could know him without 

 recognizing the simplicity of his character, his keen sensitiveness 

 in matters of honour, and absence of mercenary motives. I have 

 before me his ornithological papers and his MS. collecting-book, 

 with data of birds preserved by him from 1830 to 1891, from the 

 Robin and Blackbird to the Great Auk ! In this book he entered 

 many particulars, even the preservative and stuffing material used. 

 He would let no one examine this book in his lifetime, keeping it 

 merely as a private record. I find in it this entry :— " 10th Jan. 

 1838, I obtained a specimen of the Gold-vented Thrush, Pycno- 

 notm chrysorhoeus, shot at Mount Beresford within 4 miles of 

 Waterford." 



Dr. Burkitt described to me how he had found this bird 

 amongst a lot of Blackbirds in possession of a lad who had shot 

 them, as recorded by Thompson. Among his letters is a copy 

 he made of the following, written to Mr. Yarrell : — 



"Waterford, April 22, 1843. 



" Dear Sir, — I trust you will not deem a perfect stranger in 

 addressing you on this subject presumptuous, especially as I sent 

 a notice of the enclosed, with a sketch, to Mr. Ball, of Dublin, to 

 forward to Mr. Thompson for his opinion, some months ago, and 

 have been advised, as Mr. Thompson was in London, to forward 

 the specimen to your care, in order tbat you might both inspect 

 it. It has puzzled my friends here not a little, being totally 

 unknown to us all. Should Mr. Thompson not be in London, 

 perhaps you would have the kindness to open the packet, as the 

 bird may be worthy of inspection, though much mutilated. The 

 history I gave Mr. Thompson several months ago, and regret to 

 say that I neglected at the time I obtained it (Jan. 1838) to 

 ascertain its sex, deeming it a variety of the immature or female 

 Waxwing (a bird I have never seen), and, being much hurried 

 at the time, merely skinned it, and, some months after, foolishly 

 stuffed it, instead of leaving it as it was, never dreaming it would 

 require as now to go on its travels. 



"I am, &c, R. Burkitt, M.B. 



" William Yarrell, Esq., 



Secretary to the Zoological Society, London." 



