356 Zoology. 



Gatke (Heinrich). 



4 birds from Heligoland, mounted by himself and presented. [76. 10. 

 17, 4-17.] 



In company with the late Henry Seebohm and Mr. Frank Nicholson, 

 of Manchester, I visited Heligoland in 1876, and shared with them 

 those wonderful experiences which Seebohm has so graphically described 

 in his books. 



Gatke was undoubtedly one of the grandest-looking old men I have 

 ever seen, with the exception of Edward Blyth, who resembled him in his 

 leonine appearance. He had resided in Heligoland for many years, and 

 was an accomplished marine painter. Around his studio he had arranged 

 his collection of birds, all mounted by himself, and mostly first-rate 

 specimens. Several White's Thrushes (Oreocichla varia) and other 

 migrants to this wonderful island resting-place were mounted in glass 

 cases. Unfortunately the studio was lighted from the top, and the 

 windows being unprotected by blinds, and exposed to the sun of every 

 North Sea summer, the most lamentable exhibition of damage by light 

 which it has ever been my lot to behold ensued in Gatke's studio. 

 Specimens of unique and priceless value were bleached almost beyond 

 recognition, and I was not sorry that Seebohm's negotiations for the 

 purchase of the Gatke collection fell to the ground. His intention was 

 to buy the collection (after the surrender of the island to Germany) and 

 present it to the British Museum, providing for it a special case, in order 

 to teach the public what the migration of birds to one isolated spot really 

 meant. Considering the faded condition of the specimens, I was decidedly 

 glad that Seebohm's generous offer (far beyond the actual value of 

 the collection) was refused, and that the German Government, in a proper 

 patriotic spirit, decided that the Gatke collection should not be trans- 

 ferred to this country. 



(Cf. Gatke, " Vogelkarte Helgolands," 1891, 8vo, pp. 1-609. English 

 translation by Eosenstock, Edinburgh and London, 8vo, pp. x and 

 599, illustrated. Cf. also Seebohm, Ibis, 1892, pp. 1-32 ; Cordeaux, 

 Ibis, 1875, pp. 172-188. Obituary Notice, Ibis, 1897, pp. 291- 

 294). 



Gaumer (Dr. G. F.). 



Collected in Yucatan, and on the islands of the Bav of Honduras (cf. 

 Lawrence Salvin, Ibis, 1888, pp. 241-265 ; 1889, pp. 359-379 ; 1890, 

 pp. 84-95). 



Geale (F.). 



10 specimens from Prince's Island, Bight of Biafra. Purchased. 

 [66. 7. 20, 1-10.'J 



These birds were duplicates from Dr. Dohrn's collection (cf P.Z.S. 

 1866, pp. 324-332, pi. xxx.). They were prepared by J. G. Keulemans, 

 who as a boy accompanied Dr. Dohrn in his expedition to the Cape 

 Verde Islands and West Africa. 



21 specimens from Mexico. Purchased. [66. 12, 21, 1-21.] 



Geale was assistant to Hugh Cuming, and carried on the business 

 after the death of the last-named naturalist. When I knew him he had 

 a shop in Drury Lane. I purchased the Kingfishers from the Dohrn 

 collection, and this was my first experience (as a boy) of the high 

 prices it was possible to pay for bird-skins, when necessary for my 

 Monograph of the Alcedinidse I 



