

Bulletin of the 



birds which would be very difficult if not impossible to duplicate 

 in Ontario at the present day. Among these were fine, high- 

 plumaged adults of the White Egret and the Snowy Heron, and 

 grand examples of both adult and young of the Raptores ; while 

 the smaller birds also were represented by the choicest specimens 

 only. It was to this collection, manifestly, that he gave the loving 

 work of his early ornithological career, at the time when he could 

 turn to no one who was his peer, for counsel or assistance. 



The collection of skins came later, when, with the growth of 

 the science of ornithology, and the multiplication of students, 

 came the recognition of various forms of a species, and the oppor- 

 tunity for enriching his collection with southern and western 

 birds by exchange. Much of this part of the collection was the 

 work of his youngest son, Dr. K. C. Mcllwraith, of Toronto, who 

 spent much time and energy in its preparation. But it was well 

 regarded in time, however, and Dr. Mcliwraith doubtless felt, as 

 did his father before him, invigorated in both mind and body, by 

 the mental rest and bodily recreation of the collector's life. Mr. 

 Mcllwraith's home location was very favorable for a bird-lover, as 

 the garden and shrubbery around his house was quite extensive, 

 and being situated right on the bay, it was a natural resting- 

 place for many warblers and other small migrants, and it was 

 there that many rare birds were taken with the little 22 collecting 

 barrel, and there, on the morning of May 16, 1884, was found 

 the remains of a Yellow-Breasted Chat, the first specimen of 

 Ontario. 



Thomas Mcllwraith was born in Newton, Ayrshire, Scotland, 

 on Christmas Day, 1824, and had, therefore, nearly completed his 

 78th year. Early in 1846 he went to reside in Edinburgh, wdiere 

 he remained till about the end of 1848. Returning then to his 

 native town he rested there until his marriage to Miss Mary 

 Pack, in October, 1853, when he crossed to Canada and at once 

 took up his residence in Hamilton, where he has ever since re- 

 sided. He was manager of the gas works until 1871, when he 

 embarked in the coal and forwarding business, which is now in 

 the hands of his son, Thomas F. Mcllwraith. Besides his private 

 business he held many prominent local positions, having been on 

 the directorate of banks and insurance companies, president of 

 the Mechanics' Institute, and alderman for the ward in which he 

 resided. The letter quoted from Dr. Mcllwraith, says: "He 



