466 Obituary. 
no means formed the only zoological subject of which he 
possessed very ample knowledge. From 1833 to the time 
of his death, Blyth worked incessantly; and memoirs were 
contributed by him to different scientific publications, chiefly 
to the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, The An¬ 
nals and Magazine of Natural History, The Proceedings of 
the Zoological Society, and to this Journal. For twenty-two 
years prior to the year 1864 he held the position of Curator 
in the Calcutta Museum, an institution which profited largely 
by his energy and ability. It was here that Blyth devoted 
himself to the study of the natural history of British India 
and its dependencies, the results of which have connected his 
name so intimately with the zoology of those countries. After 
his return to England Blyth continued his favourite work with 
unabated industry, and was at times almost daily to be seen 
consulting the library of the Zoological Society. At the So¬ 
ciety's meetings, too, he was a frequent attendant. 
Blytil's connexion with the British Ornithologists' Union 
commenced in 1860, when he was elected one of our original 
Honorary Members. After his return to England he was made 
an Extraordinary Member, and so continued to the day of his 
death. 
All who knew Blyth were struck with his powers of memory, 
and the readiness with which names and references found ex¬ 
pression. His suggestions on such points, though not always 
accurate, were seldom wide of the mark. 
Some of the earlier writings of Blyth, before he took up his 
residence in Calcutta, were communicated to Bennie's ‘ Field 
Naturalist.' It is curious now to look back to them and see 
how he leant himself to the prevailing epidemic of that period 
for changing names of birds supposed to be unsuitably applied. 
Even our most familiar species, such as the Robin, did not 
escape. It was the mistaken zeal for the fitness and unifor¬ 
mity of names, regardless of the consequences, so manifested 
at this time, which provoked Strickland so energetically and 
successfully to protest. But the spirit of change which 
prompted Blyth and others in those days is not wholly laid; 
for ever and anon it reappears in some new form to disturb 
