ebnnie] 
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGY 
489 
Reid (Charles), viv. 
This author’s work below-mentioned is an unimportant 
little collection of photographs of bird life. He has also 
issued Animal Studies (London : 1902, etc.). 
1909. Bird Life. Illustrated from photographs. Edinburgh & London 
(Foulis) : 1909. 
Collation — 1 vol. 16mo, pp. 105. (Pub. Is. net.) 
Idem. Cheaper edition, 1910. (Pub. 6d. net.) 
Rennie (James), 1787-1867 
James Rennie, known to his contemporaries as “ Alphabet 
Rennie ” from his various little compilations entitled Alpha- 
bets of botany, zoology, etc., was born February 26, 1787, 
and appears to have been (says the writer of his life in the 
Diet. Nat. Biog. xlviii. pp. 18-19) the natural son of Thomas 
Rennie (or Rainey) of Aldenholme, Sorn, Ayrshire, by 
Margaret Edwards. He matriculated at Glasgow University 
in 1810, and gained prizes in logic, ethics, mathematics, and 
natural philosophy. He graduated M.A. on July 20, 1815, 
and took Holy Orders. In 1821 he removed to London, and 
in 1830 became professor of natural history at King’s College. 
This chair was, however, abolished August 1 , 1834, owing 
to a dearth of students in the subject. Subsequently he 
engaged in literary work, without, however, much pecuniary 
success. He lived about this time at Lee in Kent. He went 
to Australia in 1840 and died at Adelaide on August 25, 
1867. 
His published works number twenty-two, in addition to 
his editions of Montagu’s Ornithological Dictionary , Walton’s 
Angler , and two short-lived magazines. 
Neville Wood called his works “ barefaced compilations ” 
and “ conglomerates ” ; and Mudie in his Feathered Tribes 
includes him with Jennings in the tribe of “ Literary Lestri .” 
His little work on the Architecture of Birds is perhaps his 
best known and of the most intrinsic value. Although, of 
course, largely compiled, it contains much information on 
