Henry Witherby
Encyclopedia
Henry Forbes Witherby, M.B.E.
, F.Z.S.
, M.B.O.U.
(October 7, 1873 - ; known as Harry) was a noted British
ornithologist, author, publisher and founding editor (in 1907) of British Birds magazine
.
'Harry' was the second surviving son of Henry Forbes Witherby of Burley, Hants. After leaving school he entered the old family publishing firm of Witherby and Co., from which he retired, but resumed work again after the outbreak of the first world war. The family firm of H. F and G. Witherby, originally printers, began to publish bird
books early in the 20th century.
From an early age Witherby devoted himself to the study of ornithology, travelling extensively, including visits to Iran
, the Kola Peninsula
, and the White Nile
. He described the latter in his book Bird Hunting on the White Nile (1902).
He started one of the world's first two bird ringing
schemes in 1909 (they merged in the late 1930s), transferring responsibility for it to the British Trust for Ornithology
(BTO), who still run it, in 1937.
Witherby was Hon. Secretary and Treasurer (1904–14), and Chairman (1924–27) of the British Ornithologists' Club
(1924–1927) and President of the council of the British Ornithologists' Union
(BOU) (1933–1938).
He was a founding member and early vice-chairman of the BTO, which survived through his financial generosity, not least in donating the proceeds of the sale of his extensive collection of stuffed
birds to the British Museum
.
Witherby's crowning glory was The Handbook of British Birds
(1938–1941). Spanning five volumes, it was reprinted a number of times, the later editions having a few pages devoted to corrections and additions to previous editions, but few of these are of great significance. The main text was left untouched.
He was made an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union
in 1928 and was awarded the Godman-Salvin Medal by the BOU in 1937.
During World War I
he was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and was mentioned in dispatches
. He married Lillian Gillson in 1904.
Witherby's Lark (Alaemon hamertoni) was named for him, in 1905, but is now more commonly known as the Lesser Hoopoe-lark
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, F.Z.S.
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
, M.B.O.U.
British Ornithologists' Union
The British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
(October 7, 1873 - ; known as Harry) was a noted British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ornithologist, author, publisher and founding editor (in 1907) of British Birds magazine
British Birds (magazine)
British Birds is a monthly ornithology magazine that was established in 1907. It is now published by BB 2000 Ltd, which is wholly owned by The British Birds Charitable Trust , established for the benefit of British ornithology...
.
'Harry' was the second surviving son of Henry Forbes Witherby of Burley, Hants. After leaving school he entered the old family publishing firm of Witherby and Co., from which he retired, but resumed work again after the outbreak of the first world war. The family firm of H. F and G. Witherby, originally printers, began to publish bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
books early in the 20th century.
From an early age Witherby devoted himself to the study of ornithology, travelling extensively, including visits to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the Kola Peninsula
Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far northwest of Russia. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely to the north of the Arctic Circle and is washed by the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the east and southeast...
, and the White Nile
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
. He described the latter in his book Bird Hunting on the White Nile (1902).
He started one of the world's first two bird ringing
Bird ringing
Bird ringing or bird banding is a technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the bird's life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual later...
schemes in 1909 (they merged in the late 1930s), transferring responsibility for it to the British Trust for Ornithology
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology is an organisation founded in 1932 for the study of birds in the British Isles.-Activities:The BTO carries out research into the lives of birds, chiefly by conducting population and breeding surveys and by bird ringing, largely carried out by a large number of...
(BTO), who still run it, in 1937.
Witherby was Hon. Secretary and Treasurer (1904–14), and Chairman (1924–27) of the British Ornithologists' Club
British Ornithologists' Club
The British Ornithologists' Club was founded in October 1892 to promote discussion between ornithologists and to produce a journal, their Bulletin, which has been published continuously since that year....
(1924–1927) and President of the council of the British Ornithologists' Union
British Ornithologists' Union
The British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
(BOU) (1933–1938).
He was a founding member and early vice-chairman of the BTO, which survived through his financial generosity, not least in donating the proceeds of the sale of his extensive collection of stuffed
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
birds to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
Witherby's crowning glory was The Handbook of British Birds
Handbook of British Birds
The Handbook of British Birds was a pioneering bird guide by H.F. Witherby, Rev. F.C.R. Jourdain, Norman F. Ticehurst and Bernard W. Tucker, published in five volumes by H. F. & G. Witherby between 1938-1941.-The Handbook:...
(1938–1941). Spanning five volumes, it was reprinted a number of times, the later editions having a few pages devoted to corrections and additions to previous editions, but few of these are of great significance. The main text was left untouched.
He was made an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
in 1928 and was awarded the Godman-Salvin Medal by the BOU in 1937.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. He married Lillian Gillson in 1904.
Witherby's Lark (Alaemon hamertoni) was named for him, in 1905, but is now more commonly known as the Lesser Hoopoe-lark
Lesser Hoopoe-lark
The Lesser Hoopoe-lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family. It is endemic to Somalia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.-References:...
.