gray] 
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGY 
249 
history usually displays itself at an early age. As a boy be 
commenced to form a collection of natural history specimens, 
and, as is usually the case, his first studies were not confined 
to any particular speciality ; but commencing with birds’ 
eggs, he went on to birds’ skins, which he taught himself to 
prepare, and soon he also included fishes, shells, Crustacea 
and insects, in the attic which served him as a museum. 
Gradually, however, his attention became concentrated 
on the subject of ornithology, and by his appointment to 
the post of inspector of branches of the City of Glasgow 
Bank, his opportunities for study in this direction were much 
increased. He had now frequent opportunities of travelling, 
especially in the western parts of Scotland, and the method 
which he systematically pursued on those journeys was, 
first of course, to settle his business with the agent of the 
branch in the place he was visiting, and then to inquire 
whether there was any bird-stuffer in the place, or any other 
person who was interested in the study of birds. In this 
way he gained many ornithological friends throughout the 
country, acquired many specimens of birds, filled many a 
notebook with notes and sketches ; and to these journeys 
the work by which Mr. Gray is best known — The Birds of 
the West of Scotland — owes its origin. 
During the last few years of his life Robert Gray was 
engaged, in conjunction with Iris friend William Evans, in 
collecting material for a companion book on The Birds of the 
East of Scotland. 
Gray was one of a small number of friends of congenial 
tastes who in 1851 founded the Natural History Society 
of Glasgow, a Society of which he became Secretary about 
the year 1860. Under his guiding influence the Society 
increased in numbers and prosperity, and he himself con- 
tributed many papers to its Proceedings. 
Two years afterwards, on his removal to Edinburgh, he 
entered on a new sphere of usefulness in connection with 
scientific work. Having joined both the Royal and the Royal 
Physical Societies of Edinburgh, he was elected first a 
