Page:Nests and eggs of Australian birds 1901.djvu/17

 Mrs. Robert Brockman, of Guildford, Western Australia, has kindly written for me the following concerning Gilbert's private disposition. She says: "You ask. me to give you whatever information 1 can about Mr. Gilbert. He was in the York district, collecting birds, also their nests and eggs for Mr. Gould's large work, 'The Birds of Australia,' and, in the course of his travels, one day came to 'Woodside,' and, as a matter of course, was asked to stay and rest. We liked him so well, that we told him to consider our house his head-quarters whenever his occupation brought him within reach of us; and he was a great deal with us while after the birds he was in search of.

"He used to go out after breakfast, provided with some luncheon, and we seldom saw him until late in the afternoon, when he would come in with several birds and set busily to work to skin and fill them out before dark. In the evenings he used to sing for us, and it was a great treat to hear his lovely voice, for such a beautiful tenor voice was rarely heard in those days. He had a good selection of songs. The opening verse of one of his favourites was:—

"He was an enthusiast at his business, never spared himself, and often came in quite tired out from a long day's tramp after some particular bird, but as pleased as a child if he succeeded in shooting it.

"We became very friendly, and were much grieved to hear of his sad death. Strange to say, he always had a dread of blacks, even in our quiet place. He told me he was a widower, and spoke in very loving terms of a little daughter he had left in England.

"I wish I could recollect more about him; I shall only add once more that we all liked him much and thought highly of him. I remember his face now perfectly, as he used to look when he came in and threw off his heavy pack. He would say: 'Now for a sup of your nice tea and I shall be all right.' I think he was, altogether, nearly two months in our neighbourhood; then he travelled on towards Toodyay."

Gilbert has been further described as having been a pleasing and bright companion. In stature he was somewhat short and spare, but strong and very active. His complexion was rather dark than fair.

John Macgillivray, to whom Gould was indebted for so many of his north-eastern novelties, was naturalist on board H.M.S. "Rattlesnake," commanded by Captain Owen Stanley. Macgillivray afterwards wrote