Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/295

Rh

late Superintendent of the Zoological Gardens, was born in London on October 27th, 1812, and died on May 7th last. He received a humble education in London, and at a very early age evinced a great delight in all matters connected with Natural History, and commenced business as a taxidermist in a house in Little Russell Street. In those early days scientific men and collectors of rare birds, and especially birds' eggs, made his shop a perfect resort, and his extraordinary art in taxidermy became so widespread that he was obliged to remove into larger premises; and there are few, if any, of those early zoologists and collectors left to remember that he started again in a large house in Great College Street, Camden Town. In that place his circle of admirers increased, and his first connection with the Zoological Society of London commenced. His first communication to that learned Society occurred in 1839, and from that time he worked not only for the Society, but for nearly all the scientific men and established museums, including the Queen and the late Prince Consort. It was in that house that he prepared all his exhibits for the 1851 Exhibition, and among them were, by permission, several of the Queen's specimens which are now believed to be at Windsor Castle. After the close of the Exhibition of 1851 the Crystal Palace Company started, and, not being able to find a more proficient taxidermist, engaged him as Superintendent to form the Natural History department in the South Transept; afterwards adding to his charge the aviaries and aquarium in the North Transept, besides which he attended to endless matters of a similar character in other places.

After working laboriously for the Crystal Palace up to 1859, on the death of Mr. John Thompson, then Superintendent of the Zoological Society, Dr. P.L. Sclater, the newly appointed Secretary, in course of conversation with Mr. Henry Walter, of