528 
A BIBLIOGBAPHY OF 
[SHAEPE 
and a half of the twenty-seven volumes, most of the work 
being done in unofficial time. One of his most important 
contributions to ornithological science has been the History 
of the Collections contained in the Nat. Hist. Depts. of the 
British Museum (V ol. II. Sect. 3, “Birds”), a history which 
occupied two years of his private time to write, while his 
Hand-list of the Genera and Species of Birds (5 vols. 8vo, 
1899-1909), is a piece of work of exceptional value. He also 
produced in conjunction with C. W. Wyatt a Monograph of 
the Hirundinidae , or family of Swallows (1885-94), and 
edited and completed Seebohm’s monograph, The Turdidae , 
or family of Thrushes (2 vols. folio, 1903), and several of 
Gould’s magnificent folios. 
Sharpe was the first to conceive the idea of the British 
Ornithologists’ Club in 1902, and for some years edited its 
Bulletin. He was foreign or honorary member of all the 
principal ornithological societies of the world, and contributed 
a very large number of papers to the Ihis. He was also the 
Zoological Record recorder for the part “ Aves ” for 1870-74, 
1883-84, 1890-1908. His work was not limited to the birds 
of any particular country, but those of Africa were always 
a favourite subject of investigation with him, while one of 
his best-known works was his edition of Bayard’s Birds of 
South Africa. He also wrote several popular works on 
British birds, and contributed- the section “Aves” to 
Cassell’s Natural History (1879-80 and reissues), besides 
editing Allen’s Natural History (1894-97). 
Dr. Sharpe died on Christmas Day 1909, after an ex- 
ceedingly brief illness, from pneumonia, leaving a widow and 
ten daughters. There is no doubt he was in some respects 
one of our greatest ornithologists, his position and experience 
placing him above most other men of his day. At his bes 
his acumen and knowledge were wonderful, and he could 
unhesitatingly name a whole series of birds and designate 
their country of origin. It is impossible in the scope of the 
present notice to give any adequate memoir of Dr. Sharpe, 
but many memoirs have been published which can be readily 
