1913-14.] Obituary Notices. 277 
Dr Gtinther had a tall, somewhat lightly-built, wiry physique which 
for nigh sixty years stood without a break the stress and strain of official 
life, the unhealthy atmosphere in the old cellar in the basement at 
Bloomsbury, and the incessant demands of scientific work. His hair was 
fair, eyes blue, and his complexion fresh. Throughout his long period of 
public service, he was never known to have sick-leave. Of strong person- 
ality, and resolute when he had once formed a conclusion, yet he was not 
only an agreeable colleague, but a warm friend to a large circle of acquaint- 
ances. In his home he was one of the kindest parents, ever ready to 
sacrifice himself for the happiness of his family, who had an equally warm 
attachment to him. Of active habit, and delighting in his garden and his 
pets, he was ever busy and cheerful. His first home at Hampton Wick, 
and those subsequently at Surbiton and at Kew Gardens, all reflected the 
tastes of an enthusiastic naturalist whose pleasure lay in everything with 
life. His myrtles and other shrubs and trees at Surbiton, his maiden-hair 
tree and collection of rare shrubs and plants at Kew Gardens, his aviaries, 
house-pets, and his observations on the birds in Kew Gardens, were a 
never-failing source of interest and information to himself and others. 
His health suffered some years ago from a severe attack of pneumonia, but 
lately was satisfactory until an abdominal affection necessitated an opera- 
tion from which he did not rally. He was buried in the quiet cemetery 
at Richmond, mourned by a large circle of scientific friends. 
Dr Gunther was twice married. His first wife, Roberta MTntosh, of 
St Andrews, made the exquisite coloured figures of marine animals, many 
of which have been published by the Ray Society ; their son, Robert, 
is a Fellow and Tutor of Magdalen College, Oxford, and the author of 
various able works and memoirs. Dr Gtinther’s second wife, who, with a 
son, survives him, was Theodora Dowrish Drake, from Cornwall, a lineal 
descendant of a brother of Sir Francis Drake. 
Dr Gtinther will ever be remembered as a great systematic zoologist 
who had early and independently worked out many of the problems of 
the distribution of animals which subsequently were more prominently 
associated with other names, as an original investigator and facile princeps 
in Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles, and as a man of untiring energy, re- 
markable power of penetration, and of great administrative capacity. More- 
over, the interests of the public and of scientific workers at home and 
abroad were ever safe in his hands. Nowhere will the results of his life- 
long labours be more keenly appreciated than in the British Museum, the 
distinguished staff of which paid the last tribute to the veteran zoologist 
in the peaceful cemetery at Richmond. 
