John Keast Lord

By J. W. EastTHAM

i

(Continued from May Issue)
Teer

ORD, in his day, undoubtedly enjoyed a high reputation as a naturalist and writer
on natural history subjects. An obituary notice in one of the magazines to which
he was a frequent contributor says: “Since Edward Forbes,* the death of no

naturalist caused more general and heartfelt regret. The two men were in many things
alike—in varied and accurate knowledge, in simple unobtrusive modesty, in kind and
unselfish disposition.” This comparison with Forbes—one of the most brilliant scien-
tific men of his day—may perhaps be discounted somewhat as representing an estimate
based too much on qualities which make a popular appeal, rather than on scientific
achievement. Frank Buckland, however, whose reputation as a naturalist still ranks
high, says: “He was a man of rare powers of observation, of extensive knowledge and
persevering research.” In the fifty odd years which have elapsed since Lord’s death,
such enthusiastic estimates have undergone considerable revision, until it is not unusual
to hear him spoken of in a disparaging way.

Here, for instance, is the latest expression of opinion I have seen which gives an
estimate of Lord’s work in British Columbia from an ornithologist’s point of view:
“Tn 1866 there was published “The Naturalist in Vancouver Island and British Colum-
bia,” by John Keast Lord, Naturalist to the British North American Boundary Com-
mission. This book, based upon collections and observations made years prior to the
date of its publication, has enjoyed popularity and high standing beyond its merits.
Lord did collect a great many birds, as is shown by the specimens listed in the “Cata-
logue of Birds” of the British Museum; but the localities of capture are but loosely
indicated; there is in fact a dearth of definite information concerning them. The
whole trip contains relatively little pertaining to British Columbia; much of it is devoted
to a trip to California and much of it to collections and observations made at Colville
in the State of Washington. Lord visited Victoria, Fort Rupert (at the north end of
Vancouver Island), Sumas, Chilliwack, Hope, Osoyoos and East Kootenay. Nowhere
in his book is there any explicit statement of his itinerary and there are practically no
dates given.’

Several factors are responsible for this change of estimate. The more conspicuous
features of the wild animals of the world are pretty well-known, and much more inten-
sive study and record are now expected. Precision in geographical data will naturally
have a very different interpretation put upon it, in a well-settled and surveyed country,

from that given by the members of an expedition engaged in running the first survey

*Edward Forbes, 1815-54, was Professor of Botany at Kings College, London, and later Professor
of Natural History at Edinburgh University. He was also Huxley’s immediate predecessor as Pale-
ontologist to the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Huxley considered his influence, at that time,
among the younger generation of scientific naturalists, as much greater even than that of Sir Richard
Owen. See “Life and letter of T. H. Huxley,” Vol. I., for many references to Forbes.

ae laa distributional list of the birds of British Columbia,’ by Allan Brooks and Harry S. Swarth,
DSo