1906. 
Edward Williams. 
23 
filled with interesting and attractive specimens so life like and 
natural that their novelty in Dublin arrested the attention of 
many foot passengers, and a small group was always collected 
on the pavement outside the window. It is unusual for a 
competition such as I have described to terminate so con- 
clusively in favour of natural science. 
It has been correctly observed that with few exceptions 
" the remuneration obtained for stuffing animals has not been 
sufficient to secure the services of persons trained to produce 
high class work," but Edward Williams, like all true artists, 
laboured not for pecuniary remuneration but for love. The 
pleasure it gave him to do a thing well would have been (had 
he possessed independent means) sufficient reward in itself. 
This fact, combined with the sustained encouragement given 
him by Mr. A. G. More, was the keynote of his success. 
Williams was an invaluable ally to More when recruiting for the 
National Museum, for the former had exceptional opportuni- 
ties of knowing the whereabouts of the rarities the latter 
wished to procure, since practically every Irish specimen 
passed through his hands. Edward Williams and More were 
mutually helpful. " Did you notice that case at Williams' ? " 
More would say — it is wonderfully good you will never see 
its match anywhere — btiy it.'' 
When Mr. J. G. Millais, son of the famous President of the 
Royal Academy, and author of many recent and valuable 
volumes written chiefly for sportsmen, was quartered at 
Beggar's Bush barracks, he was a frequent visitor at 2 Dame 
Street, and his admiration for Edward and his work was keen 
and genuine. An excursion to the great breeding station 
of the Black-headed Gull near Tullamore, undertaken by 
Williams, Millais, and myself, was a delightful experience ; 
nor shall I ever forget the enthusiasm of my old friend, when 
we two journeyed westward in 1904, and saw for the first time 
the Red-necked Phalarope breeding in Ireland. 
A worker rather than a writer, the many short notes and 
papers contributed to the Zoologist, and the Irish Naturalist^ a 
list of which appears at foot, give little conception of his 
varied knowledge, being for the most part simply notes of 
the occurrences of rare and interesting specimens. 
A 2 
