Page:Nests and eggs of Australian birds 1901.djvu/18

 a "Narrative of the Voyage," which was an account of a surveying cruise of about four years (1846-50), in the rich region of the Cape York Peninsula and contiguous localities, and included his own original field notes, graphically written, of the finding of rare and new Australian birds.

J. R. Elsey (afterwards Dr., I believe), who accompanied the Gregory Brothers' Expedition, did pioneer collecting in the rough north-west.

The Ramsay Brothers, of Sydney, may be said to have gathered the first Australian oological collection, which became known as the "Dobroyde" Collection. It was of great value and interest as a pioneer one, but to compare it (if it is still intact) with the splendid and more recent collections would possibly be to over-rate it. Dr. E. P. Ramsay became the clever curator of the Australian Museum, Sydney, but, unfortunately, just as he was gaining fame in the ornithological world, he was retired on account of ill-health. It was as if his sun had set while it was yet noon, for all had hoped to see Dr. Ramsay amongst Australian ornithologists what Baron von Mueller was amongst botanists.

Kendall Broadbent, the veteran collector, now attached to the Queensland Museum, has traversed the whole of Eastern Australia, including Tasmania, after specimens. His principal trips and dates thereof are:—Portland Bay (1858); Gippsland (1862); Brisbane Scrubs (1864); Darling Downs (1865); Cardwell and "Maria" Expedition to New Guinea (1873); Cape York, Gulf of Carpentaria and New Guinea (1874-75); Cairns and New Guinea (1878-9); Tasmania and South Australia (1879-80); five trips to Cardwell (between 1880-90); Charleville (1883); Cape York and Gulf of Carpentaria (1883-4); Barcaldine and Central Queensland (1887); and Bellenden-Ker Range (1889).

What a delightful education the sum total of these bush experiences must have been to Mr. Broadbent! Though not an Australian by birth, Mr. Broadbent was reared in Victoria. He enjoys the reputation of being an indefatigable collector, never giving up the chase, night or day, if he can attain the specimen sought after.

Another old and respected collector is George Masters, curator of the Macleayan collection, Sydney University.

Dr. George Bennett, in his interesting work, "Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australia" (1860), furnishes field observations of many familiar birds; while "Old Bushman," wrote the pleasant little volume, "Bush Wanderings of a Naturalist" (1861).

"Old Bushman," otherwise Horace William Wheelwright (son of an English clergyman), was educated and practised as a solicitor. From