OBITUARY. 275 



Spain was bis favourite hunting-ground, and there, in company 

 with his genial and firm friend, Lord Lilford, he spent many of the 

 pleasantest days of his life. Both of them were excellent Spanish 

 linguists, both loved the sunny hills and woods of the peninsula, and 

 thoroughly appreciated the attractive qualities of the natives. It was 

 in Andalusia, of course, as well as on the opposite coasts of Morocco, 

 that the materials for the ' Birds of the Straits ' were so ably collected, 

 and it was to Spain that poor Col. Irby's last expedition was made, 

 when, ill and unable to endure the climate of England, he went out 

 to Malaga for the past winter. Here he took up his quarters for some 

 months on the shores of the Mediterranean, but unfortunately the 

 weather even in this favoured region proved inclement, and by no 

 means beneficial to him, and he returned home only to die shortly 

 afterwards of heart-failure at 14, Cornwall Terrace, Eegent's Park. 

 He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, followed to the grave by 

 many sorrowful old friends. His residence in Cornwall Terrace com- 

 menced in December, 1889 ; it was a most suitable position for him, 

 as it was close to the Zoological Gardens, the Botanical Gardens, and 

 Lord's Cricket Ground, of all of which institutions he was a member. 

 He served often and ably on the council of the Zoological Society, and 

 was keenly interested in all matters pertaining to the animals and their 

 management. He was also a frequent visitor to Lord's, and enjoyed 

 seeing good cricket as much as anyone. Many a good match have I 

 watched from the pavilion in his company, and I had hoped to sit 

 there alongside him again this summer. But this is not to be, and so 

 I will conclude with the expression of the hope that these hastily 

 written lines may prove of interest to his many ornithological friends. 



S. G. B. 

 Yalding, Kent. 



