Natural History:

COLLECTORS

And

COLLECTIONS

19 TH CENTURY NATURALISTS AND THEIR COLLECTIONS

Charles and John Ashford Rev. Thomas Salwey

By Jackie Tweddle (2008)

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………… 1

METHODOLOGY …………………………………………………. 2

THE ASHFORDS …………………………………………………. 3

Charles Ashford ………………………………………….. 3

• Published Work ………………………………….. 5

John Ashford ……………………………………………….. 6

The Ashford Collection ………………………………. 6 • The Egg Collection ………………………………. 7 • Notebooks and Lists ……………………………… 17 • Correspondence ………………………………….. 22 • Printed Material ………………………………….. 26 • Charles Ashford; Conchology Papers ……………… 30

Ashford Material in other Institutions ………. 33

REV. THOMAS SALWEY ……………………………………. 34 • Published Work …………………………………. 36

The Salwey Collection ………………………………… 37 • Correspondence ………………………………….. 37 • Printed Material ………………………………….. 54

Salwey Material in other Institutions ………… 58

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS …………… 59

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES …………………. 60

INTRODUCTION

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre is the repository for the Natural History Collection of the Shropshire County Council Museum Service. The collection is large and varied and comprises over 55,000 items, and includes many interesting objects and specimens collected by 19th century naturalists. Over the past few years these collections have attracted enquires by private researchers from both Britain and abroad and it has been discovered that some of the items within them are particularly important.

The bird’s egg collection of the 19th century Naturalists, Charles and John Ashford and the collection of correspondence to the Botanist, Rev. Thomas Salwey from other 19th century Botanists, appear to be particularly interesting and it was thought that both these collections might have links with others held in museums around the country.

The Ashfords were keen Natural Historians. Charles was a Conchologist, well known for his studies on British molluscs and along with his brother John, was also an avid Ornithologist and Oologist (egg collector). Together they built up a large collection of British and European birds eggs, which are now held in Ludlow.

The Rev. Thomas Salwey was a Shropshire Botanist known and respected for his studies on lichens, particularly those around the Oswestry area in north west Shropshire. He associated with many well-known and eminent Botanists of that time including William Leighton, William Hooker and Charles Babington. Ludlow holds a large collection of correspondence to Salwey from many of these Botanists, which gives us an interesting and colourful glimpse into the lives and activities of these 19th century Natural Historians.

It was the collections of these three Naturalists that we were interested in researching. Funding by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council West Midlands has allowed this to be undertaken. It has enabled us to locate similar collections around the country and to increase our knowledge of these collectors. This research has shown their lives to be full and interesting and we have been able to produce a document that gives an account of their activities and their contributions to the world of Natural History.

It is hoped that research into the collections of other Natural Historians housed in Ludlow Museum Resource Centre will be possible in the future. This would not only enhance our own collections and benefit other institutions holding similar material but also provide information for individuals carrying out their own research.

1 METHODOLOGY

This project was undertaken because previous research had shown that the Shropshire County Council Museum Service held some interesting and possibly important collections made by 19th century Natural Historians. The main aim was to research deeper into the lives and activities of some of these collectors. The collections chosen were those of Charles and John Ashford and the Rev. Thomas Salwey. The Ashford egg collection is large and well documented and contains some interesting dealer’s catalogues. Thomas Salwey was a local Lichenologist whose collection of correspondence from other 19th century Botanists appeared to be very interesting and needed to be transcribed as well as catalogued. Importantly it was also thought that material associated with these particular collectors might exist elsewhere in the country so it would be useful to ourselves and to the other institutions to locate it and correlate the information.

It was also the aim of this project to accession, catalogue and computerise the inventories of these collections and to digitise as many items as possible so that a detailed record of the material was available on the database system. After making a full inventory, we decided to contact as many institutions and museums as possible to find out if any housed material associated with these collectors. They were located using the Museums and Galleries Directory and the online collections database sites, Cornucopia and Fenscore and then contacted by email. Many responded quickly, either offering further information, suggesting useful contacts or informed us that they too held material associated with the collectors we were researching.

The lives and activities of both these collectors were pieced together using books, archived information such as obituaries, letters and newspaper articles, and online family history research sites such as Rootsweb Family History. All the sources used are listed in the bibliography at the back of this document. Correspondence associated with the collectors were transcribed by volunteers and revealed a wealth of information on their everyday activities, adding to the knowledge of their lives. Following up leads and information given by other museums also proved valuable and we were able to produce a comprehensive biography for each collector. In course of the research however, it was easy to get involved with these collectors and become sidetracked by related information, which was not particularly relevant to the project.

A full list of the accessioned Ashford and Salwey collections held in the Ludlow Museum Resource Centre has been included in this document along with the locations of other establishments holding related material.

Fully cataloguing and digitising the collections proved to be a challenge. Though the project was allotted 280 research hours, the target stated for the number of images we hoped to digitize was difficult to achieve in this timescale. The digitization process is therefore ongoing and it is hoped that it will be completed in the near future.

2 THE ASHFORDS

Charles and John Ashford were 19th century Naturalists who were interested in many aspects of Natural History. Charles was a Conchologist whose knowledge and research did much to advance the study of mollusc species of the British Isles. He was an expert in this field and during his lifetime published many papers and articles on the subject, mainly for the ‘Journal of Conchology’, ‘The Zoologist’ and ‘The Naturalist’. Charles was also interested in Geology, Astronomy and Ornithology particularly in the breeding habits of birds and their eggs. John, though not as well known as Charles was also a keen Natural Historian. His main interest however was Oology (egg collecting), and with the help of his brother built up a large collection of British and European birds eggs.

CHARLES ASHFORD (1829 – 1894)

Charles was born in Baldock, Hertfordshire on 7th January 1829. He was the son of Samuel and Rachel Ashford and had three brothers, John, George and William and a sister Mary. The family were devout Bedford Quakers. From an early age Charles showed an interest in Natural History and when he was nine was sent to attend the Quaker Friends School in Ackworth, Yorkshire where he discovered a love for science and a talent for drawing. Here he stayed for thirteen years, first as a pupil and later as a teacher and it was while he was a teacher here that he developed an interest in Ornithology. It was through a colleague, Henry Thompson that he became interested in birds and their eggs which was a passion that stayed with him throughout his lifetime.

3 His love of science encouraged him to further his teaching skills and from 1851 to 1854 he studied to be a mathematics teacher at the Flounders Institute in Ackworth. Here his interest in Conchology grew and he began to make a detailed study of the molluscs in the area. In 1854, as a result of this work, he completed a ‘List of the Mollusca of Ackworth’ which was published later that year, first in ‘The Zoologist’ and then in ‘The Naturalist’. Whilst at the Flounders Institute he also became interested in Astronomy and used the college telescope to study the night skies taking particular interest in the transits of planets and stars. He made a detailed study of Orion as well as lengthy observations of double stars, nebulae and clusters. While using the telescope however, he injured his right eye, which impaired his sight and affected him for the rest of his life.

Towards the end of 1854 Charles left Ackworth and went to teach mathematics in Hitchin and Tottenham. He continued collecting eggs from these areas adding to his growing collection. In 1875 he went to live on the Isle of Wight where he studied and built up a large collection of Eocene fossils from the freshwater deposits at Hempstead, Sconce, Totland Bay, Colwell Bay and Headon Hill.

In 1879 he returned to the North of England where he lived in Redcar for a short time. Here he made a study of the shells of the area and produced the work ‘Land and Freshwater Shells Observed in the Neighbourhood of Redcar’. The following year Charles retired and went to live with his brother John in Christchurch where he continued to study conchology using his artistic skills to produce finely detailed anatomical drawings of the structure of molluscs. He also continued to collect eggs, passing many onto his brother for his own collection.

During the 1880’s he worked closely with the Naturalist, William Denison Roebuck, studying and drawing British slugs and snails, taking particular interest in the darts of snails. This resulted in a paper for the Journal of Conchology, ‘The Darts of the British Helicidae’. During this time he also collected mollusc specimens from the Isle of Wight, Dorset and Christchurch. Some of these specimens are now held in the Potteries Museum in Stoke.

Charles died suddenly of a stroke in January 1894 leaving behind a wealth of information on the mollusc species of the British Isles and of British birds and their eggs. His work was thorough and comprehensive and greatly respected and acknowledged by other Natural Historians of the time. His death was a sad loss to the world of Conchology. Warm and heart felt obituaries to Charles were written in ‘The Journal of Conchology’ by J.W. Taylor and in ‘The Naturalist’ by C. Irwin Evans. After his death his collection of British land and freshwater shells were placed in Leeds Museum, which still holds a large part of the collection today. The egg collection of Charles and John is now housed in Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, Shropshire.

In 1917 the genus Ashfordia was appointed to Ashford and the species Ashfordia granulata, the Silky Snail named after him, which subsequently came to be known as Ashford’s Hairy Snail.

4 Published work

Paper on ‘On The Habits of Helix fusca.’

Paper on ‘Note on The Limnaea glutinosa Muller’

Paper on ‘Land and Freshwater Snails observed in the neighbourhood of Redcar’

Paper on ‘Destruction of Shell-life by Floods’

Paper on ‘Note on the Anatomy of Helix hispida and Helix cantiana’

Paper on ‘Bulimus acutus var. bizona in the Isle of Wight’.

Paper on ‘Note on Bilimus heterostomus of the Eocene, Isle of Wight’.

Paper on ‘List of Shells of the Lower Tees District, Yorkshire’.

1854, ‘Mollusca of Ackworth’ was published in ‘The Zoologist’, ‘The Naturalist’ and in ‘The Quarterly Journal of Conchology’.

1881, ‘The Giant African Snail – A Problem in Economic Malcology’:- ref. to ‘Notes from the Isle of Wight Journal’ by Ashford in the Journal of Conchology., 3:132-35.

1883-1885, ‘The Darts of the British Helicidae’ printed in the ‘Journal of Conchology’.

1887, ‘Land and Freshwater Mollusca around Christchurch, South Hants’.

1895, His work on snails and slugs is mentioned in the book ‘Molluscs and Brachiopods’ by the Cambridge Natural History Society..

Charles Ashford is also mentioned in ‘Monograph of the Land and Freshwater Mollusca of the British Isles’ by John W. Taylor, Feb 1912.

Signature of Charles Ashford

5 JOHN HENRY ASHFORD (1831 – 1893)

Signature of John Ashford

John Ashford was the younger brother of Charles. He was born in Leighton Buard, Bedford in1831 and was the youngest child of Samuel and Rachel’s five children. He was a grocer by trade and married Emily Adams in 1860. They had three daughters, Margaret, Isobel and Louisa. Like Charles and the rest of his family, he was a devout Bedford Quaker though he moved from the north of England after he was married to Christchurch, Hampshire where he spent the rest of his life.

Although not as well known as Charles, John was also interested in Natural History and was a keen collector of bird’s eggs. He began to collect eggs seriously in about 1866. He appeared to get many of his specimens from individual dealers rather than going to collect them himself though he would occasionally go out collecting in the field with Charles. From catalogues in the collection John seemed to use the egg lists from well known dealers such as Joseph Dunn and Thomas Cooke as a guide for purchasing eggs from other less well known dealers. He kept detailed records of his purchases which are written in his own Catalogue of Eggs. From correspondence to John from Charles and from handwritten notes in his catalogue we also know that many of the eggs in his collection were given to him by his brother.

In 1880 John was joined by Charles who retired and went to live with him in Christchurch. Together they spent much of their time studying and collecting eggs, adding to their growing collection. The records and list they made were detailed and comprehensive and included many ornithological details such as nesting habits and habitats of birds. Each egg was given its own number and the dates and locations where it was found were meticulously recorded. John also kept a list of British birds ticking off each species as he acquired a specimen of its egg.

John died just a few weeks before his brother in December 1893 aged 62 years.

6 The Ashford Collection in Ludlow Museum Resource Centre

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre holds a large collection of British and European bird’s eggs and related documents collected by Charles and John Ashford. In the collection are detailed handwritten collectors notes, egg lists and notebooks as well as a full hand written catalogue of the eggs in the collection. There are also a number of correspondences between John and Charles and various other egg collectors of the time.

The collection also contains a number of interesting lists and catalogues from the 19th century dealers Joseph Dunn and Thomas Cooke. These were examined by a private researcher in May 2006 and it appears that the 1867 edition of Joseph Dunn’s catalogue is of significant importance as it may be the oldest printed catalogue found of British Birds eggs. Cooke’s catalogue is also important, as it too is believed to date from around the same time. Ludlow Museum Resource Centre therefore appears to hold the two oldest known printed British Egg Sale catalogues in existence. The collection was acquired from a private source in 1982 that had no connection with the Ashford family.

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre also holds copies of papers and works by Charles Ashford on Conchology.

THE ASHFORD COLLECTION

Collection of Birds Eggs. The Ashford Collection of Bird’s Eggs dates from between 1866 and 1893. It is housed in a wooden collector’s cabinet and comprises of nearly 2000 eggs from over 295 different species of British and European bird. The cabinet has 31 drawers of neatly packed eggs, many are boxed in clutches, each with its original handwritten collectors label inscribed with collector’s number, location and date. The collection includes many varieties of bird ranging from the common House Sparrow and Jackdaw to more interesting species such as the White-tailed Sea Eagle and Pine Grosbeak. It also contains some rare specimens, notably the egg of a Passenger Pigeon from 1871, 29 years prior to its extinction in the wild.

Many of the seabird eggs, particularly those of the Guillemot, Razorbill and Puffin, were collected from Flamborough Cliffs in Yorkshire, a favourite site for 19th century Oologists. Eggs from this area in particular were subject to collecting by groups of men who made their living from such activities. These groups specialised in collecting the eggs of seabirds and were known as the ‘Flambro’ Hill Climbers’. There is a list of this group of collectors amongst the Ashford documents. It was reported that up to 400 eggs were taken a day!

In the 19th century egg collecting was considered respectable but from about 1880 onwards Ornithologists became increasingly concerned with the quantity of eggs that were being taken. In 1954 the Wild Birds Protection Act made it illegal to collect the eggs of wild birds and in 2000 it was deemed an imprisonable offence to be in possession of wild bird’s eggs. Most surviving collections are now held in museums. Such collections do not promote the collecting of wild bird’s eggs and should be seen as an aid to understanding birds and how environmental changes can affect their breeding habits.

7

The Ashford Egg Collection Comprises of:

Accession numbers, SHRCM:Z.03001 – Z.03178. SHRCM:Z.00398 – Z.00546

BIRD ACCESSION Z.03587 NUMBER Z.03588.001-.005 Alpine Accentor Z.00461 Z.03589.001-.005 Hedge Accentor Z.03417 Z.00446 Z.00439 Snow Bunting Z.00420 Avocet Z.03012.001-.003 Yellow Bunting Z.03577.001-.004 Z.03256 Z.03578.001-.004 Little Auk Z.03049.001-.002 Z.03579.001-.004 Z.03580.001-.002 Bee Eater Z.00463 Z.03581.001-.003 Great Bittern Z.03196 Z.03582.001-.002 Little Bittern Z.03197 Z.00426 Z.00475 Z.00464 Blackbird Z.03142.001-.004 Great Bustard Z.03106.001-.002 Z.03428.001-.005 Z.03108 Z.03429 Z.03246 Z.03430 Little Bustard Z.03008.001-.002 Z.03431.001-.007 Z.03432.001-.005 Common Buzzard Z.03001.001-.004 Z.03226.001-.003 Z.03433.001-.004 Z.03434.001-.004 Z.03227.001-.002 Z.03233 Z.00497 Z.03234.001-.003 Common Z.03475.001-.005 Z.03235.001-.002 Blackcap Z.03476.001-.003 Z.03477.001-.005 Honey Buzzard Z.03040.001-.002 Z.03478.001-.004 Rough Legged Z.03010.001-.002 Z.03479.001-.005 Buzzard Z.03232 Z.03480 Capercaillie Z.03053.001-.002 Erysthristic Z.03481.001-.002 Chaffinch Z.03785 Blackcap Z.03563.001-.005 Brambling Z.03575 Z.03564.001-.005 Z.00435 Z.03565.001-.005 Z.03566.001-.005 Bullfinch Z.03576 Z.03567.001-.004 Z.00419 Z.03568.001-.002 Cirl Bunting Z.00411 Z.03569.001-.003 Corn Bunting Z.03064.001 - .004 Z.00455 Z.03152 Z.00460 Lapland Bunting Z.00410 Chiffchaff Z.00399.001-.004 Orlotan Bunting Z.00406 Chough Z.03132.001 - .003 Reed Bunting Z.03583.001-.005 Virginian Colin Z.03129.001 - .004 Z.03584.001-.005 Common Coot Z.03775 Z.03585.001-.004 Z.03586.001-.004 Cormorant Z.03191 Z.03192.001 - .002

8 Z.03193.001 - .003 Harlequin Duck Z.03030 Z.03194.001 - .003 Z.03195 King Eider Duck Z.03033 Z.00543 Z.03215 Carolina Crake Z.03138.001 - .003 Long-tailed Duck Z.03024.001-.002 Corn Crake Z.00472 Z.03214 Spotted Crake Z.00481 Tufted Duck Z.03023 Coot Z.03251 Z.03217.001-.002 Z.00532 Z.03218.001-.003 Crane Z.00547 Z.03219.001-.003 Crossbill Z.03595 Dunlin Z.03272 Z.00418 Z.00474 Carrion Crow Z.03777.001-.003 Golden Eagle Z.03112 Z.00512 Z.03240 Hooded Crow Z.03776.001-.002 White-tailed Sea Z.03111 Z.03558.001-.002 Eagle Z.03559 Little Egret Z.03013.001-.004 Z.00505 Gyr Falcon Z.03016.001-.002 Cuckoo Z.03068.001-.005 Peregrine Falcon Z.03015 Z.03366 Z.03241 Yellow-billed Z.03128.001-.003 Red-footed Falcon Z.03011.001-.004 Cuckoo Fieldfare Z.00492 Curlew Z.03085.001-.008 Firecrest Z.00409 Z.03277.001-.002 Pied Flycatcher Z.03519.001-.006 Z.03278.001-.003 Z.03520 Z.03280.001-.002 Z.00417 Z.03281.001-.002 Red-eyed Z.00429 Z.03282.001-.002 Flycatcher Z.03283.001-.002 Spotted Flycatcher Z.03510.001-.005 Stone Curlew Z.00523 Z.03511.001-.005 Z.00526 Z.03512.001-.004 Dipper Z.03083.001-.003 Z.03513 Z.03409 Z.03514.001-.004 Z.03410.001-.005 Z.03515.001-.004 Black Throated Z.03037 Z.03516.001-.004 Diver Z.03517.001-.005 Red Throated Z.03036 Z.03518.001-.005 Diver Z.00412 Ring Dove Z.03351 Fulmar Z.03055 Rock Dove Z.00506 Z.03188 Stock Dove Z.03354 Gadwall Z.03006.001-.002 Z.03355.001-.002 Gannet Z.03107 Z.03356.001-.002 Z.03187 Z.00507 Garganey Z.03057 Turtle Dove Z.03352 Z.03202 Z.03353 Black-tailed Z.03052.001-.002 Z.00491 Godwit Common Eider Z.03109.001-.003 Goldcrest Z.03784 Duck Z.03468

9 Z.00403 Black Guillemot Z.03344 Goldeneye Z.03056.001-.002 Z.00536 Golden Oriole Z.03541 Brunnich’s Z.03345.001-.002 Z.00493 Guillemot Goldfinch Z.03789 Common Z.03048.001-.002 Z.03574 Guillemot Z.03089.001-.002 Z.00424 Z.03099.001-.008 Goosander Z.03021.001-.002 Z.03100.001-.008 Barnacle Goose Z.03119.001-.002 Z.03101.001-.008 Bean Goose Z.03124.001-.002 Z.03102.001-.008 Brent Goose Z.03121.001-.002 Z.03103.001-.006 Canada Goose Z.03123 Z.03104.001-.007 Egyptian Goose Z.03113.001-.003 Z.03105.001-.005 Greylag Goose Z.03125.001-.002 Black-headed Gull Z.03309 Z.03204 Z.00535 Pink-footed Bean Z.03117.001-.002 Common Gull Z.03306 Goose Z.03307 Red-breasted Z.03122.001-.002 Glaucous Gull Z.03304 Goose Great Black- Z.03116.001-.003 Spur-winged Z.03120.001-.002 backed Gull Z.03303 Goose Herring Gull Z.03089.001-.003 White-fronted Z.03118.001-.003 Z.03090.001-.008 Goose Z.03091.001-.008 Goshawk Z.03115.001-.003 Z.03092.001-.008 Z.03220 Z.03093.001-.008 Black-necked Z.00525 Z.03305 Grebe Laughing Gull Z.03176.001-.002 Great Crested Z.03183.001-.005 Lesser Black- Z.03084.001-.008 Grebe Z.03184.001-.004 backed Gull Z.03088.001-.003 Z.03185 Z.03308 Z.00528 Little Gull Z.03175.001-.005 Little Grebe Z.03180.001-.005 Hen Harrier Z.03224 Z.03181.001-.004 Marsh Harrier Z.03225 Z.03182 Montagu’s Harrier Z.03177.001-.005 Z.00482 Z.03223 Z.00483 Hawfinch Z.03059.001-.006 Red-Necked Z.03179 Z.03594 Grebe Common Heron Z.03007.001-.002 Slovenian Grebe Z.03186 Z.03198.001-.004 Greenfinch Z.03766.001-.006 Night Heron Z.03009.001-.004 Z.03788.001-.002 Purple Heron Z.03018 Z.03561.001-.006 Hobby Z.03166.001-.004 Z.03562 Hoopoe Z.03062.001-.002 Z.00448 Z.03369 Greenshank Z.03292 Glossy Ibis Z.03014.001-.002 Z.03293 Jackdaw Z.03127.001-.006 Black Grouse Z.03050.001-.04 Z.03133.001-.005 Red Grouse Z.03248 Z.03546.001-.004 Z.00516 Z.03547.001-.005

10 Z.03548.001-.006 Z.03591.001-.002 Z.03549.001-.004 Z.03592.001-.004 Z.03550.001-.005 Z.03593.001-.004 Jay Z.03542 Z.00454 Z.03543.001-.005 Magpie Z.03551 Z.03544.001-.004 Z.00494 Z.03545.001-.005 Mallard Z.03038.001 - .004 Z.00500 Z.03199 Siberian Jay Z.03131.001-.002 Manx Shearwater Z.00540 Kestrel Z.03043.001-.003 House Martin Z.00428 Z.03236 Purple Martin Z.00457 Z.03237 Sand Martin Z.03779 Z.03238.001-.004 Z.00441 Z.03243.001-.005 Red-breasted Z.03058.001-.002 Z.03244.001-.005 Merganser Z.03212 Z.03245.001-.006 Merlin Z.03772 Z.00501 Z.03035.001-.004 Kingfisher Z.03074.001-.005 Z.03242 Z.03151.001-.004 Z.00538 Z.03368 Moorhen Z.03773 Black Kite Z.03019 Z.03046.001-.004 Z.03222 Z.03165.001-.004 Common Kite Z.03002.001-.003 Z.03178.001-.004 Red Kite Z.03221 Z.03250 Kittiwake Z.03326 Z.00522 Z.00545 Nightingale Z.03065.001-.005 Z.00541 Z.03414 Z.00542 Nightjar Z.03149 Lapwing Z.03258 Z.03367 Z.03273.001-.002 Z.00499 Z.03274.001-.002 Nuthatch Z.03537 Z.03275.001-.004 Z.00449 Z.03276.001-.004 Osprey Z.03114.001-.002 Z.00529 Z.03239 Z.00530 Ringed Ouzel Z.03426.001-.004 Crested Lark Z.03082.001-.002 Z.03427.001-.003 Shore Lark Z.03389 Z.00490 Short-toed Lark Z.03072.001-.004 Barn Owl Z.03357.001-.005 Sky Lark Z.03075.001-.005 White-breasted Z.00508 Z.03141.001-.006 Barn Owl Z.03382.001-.003 Hawk Owl Z.00503 Z.03383.001-.003 Little Owl Z.03362 Z.03384.001-.004 Z.00502 Z.03385.001-.004 Long-eared Owl Z.03360 Z.03386 Z.00509 Wood Lark Z.03060.001-.004 Scops Owl Z.00486 Z.03065.001-.003 Short-eared Owl Z.03361 Z.03387.001-.002 Z.00504 Z.03388.001-.004 Tawny Owl Z.03358 Linnet Z.03590.001-.004

11 Z.03359 Z.03150.001-.003 Z.00537 Z.03173.001-.008 Tengmalm’s Owl Z.00485 Z.03174.001-.008 Oystercatcher Z.03252 Z.03259 Z.03253.001-.004 Z.03260 Z.03254.001-.003 Z.03261.001-.004 Z.03255.001-.003 Z.03262.001-.004 Z.00533 Sociable Plover Z.03266 Barbary Partridge Z.03164 Common Pochard Z.03028.001-.002 Common Partridge Z.03172.001-.006 Z.03216 Red-legged Z.03774 Red-crested Z.03032.001-.002 Partridge Z.03168.001-.004 Pochard Z.03205 Z.03172.001-.006 Collard Pratincole Z.03135.001-.004 Z.03247 Ptarmigan Z.00518 Storm Petrel Z.00495 Puffin Z.03086.001-.008 Red-necked Z.03294 Z.03343 Phalarope Z.03295 Quail Z.00489 Z.00476 Water Rail Z.00480 Common Pheasant Z.03047.001 - .003 Raven Z.03034.001-.002 Z.03249 Z.03553 Passenger Pigeon Z.03171 Z.03554 Wood Pigeon Z.03347.001-.002 Z.03555.001-.006 Z.03348.001-.002 Z.03556.001-.005 Z.03349.001-.002 Z.03557.001-.005 Z.03350 Razorbill Z.03094.001-.007 Z.00511 Z.03095.001-.008 Pine Grosbeak Z.03077 Z.03096.001-.008 Pintail Z.03020.001-.002 Z.03097.001-.008 Meadow Pipit Z.03781 Z.03098.001-.008 Z.03370.001-.005 Z.03346 Z.03371.001-.004 Lesser Redpoll Z.00413 Z.03372.001-.005 Mealy Redpoll Z.00423 Z.03373.011-.004 Redshank Z.03284.001-.004 Z.03374 Z.03285.001-.003 Z.03375 Z.03286.001-.004 Z.00443 Z.03287.001-.002 Rock Pipit Z.03076 Z.03288.001-.003 Tree Pipit Z.03376.001-.002 Z.03289.001-.002 Z.00470 Z.03290.001-.002 Water Pipit Z.03071.001-.005 Z.03291 Golden Plover Z.03264 Z.00517 Z.03265.001-.004 Black Redstart Z.00407 Z.00520 Z.00436 Kentish Plover Z.00466 Common Redstart Z.03412.001-.006 Killdeer Plover Z.03263 Z.03413 Z.00484 Redwing Z.03078.001-.002 Little Ringed Z.03070 American Robin Z.03126.001-.004 Plover Robin Z.03782 Ringed Plover Z.03137.001-.005 Z.03415 Z.03416

12 Z.00465 Z.00513 Roller Z.00473 House Sparrow Z.03786.001-.002 Rook Z.03771 Z.03148.001-.005 Z.03552 Z.03154.001-.005 Z.00510 Z.03570.001-.002 Ruff Z.00519 Z.03571.001-.002 Broad-billed Z.00476 Z.00453 Sandpiper Z.00467 Common Z.03296.001-.004 Tree Sparrow Z.03787 Sandpiper Z.03297.001-.004 Z.03162 Z.03298.001-.004 Z.03572.001-.005 Z.03299.001-.004 Z.03573.001-.005 Z.03300.001-.004 Sparrow Hawk Z.30041.001-.008 Z.03301 Z.03044.001-.004 Z.03302 Z.03229.001-.005 Z.00471 Z.03230.001-.006 Green Sandpiper Z.03170.001-.003 Z.03231 Wood Sandpiper Z.00479 Spoonbill Z.03054 Scaup Z.03022.001-.002 Starling Z.03560 Common Scoter Z.03029 Z.00496 Surf Scoter Z.03031 Red-winged Z.00451 Velvet Scoter Z.03026 Starling Z.03213 Rose coloured Z.03067.001-.002 Shag Z.03189.001 - .003 Starling Z.03190 Black-winged Stilt Z.03257 Z.00544 Stonechat Z.03421 Shelduck Z.03025 Z.03422.001-.005 Z.03203 Z.00431 Shoveler Z.03027 Swallow Z.037780 Z.03206 Z.03156.001-.002 Z.03207.001-.005 Z.03158.001-.004 Z.03208.001-.003 Z.03377.001-.004 Z.03209.001-.004 Z.03378 Z.03210.001-.004 Z.03379.001-.005 Z.03211 Z.03380.001-.005 Great Grey Shrike Z.03079.001-.002 Z.03381.001-.006 Red-backed Shrike Z.03061.001-.008 Z.00433 Z.03073.001-.008 Bewick’s Swan Z.03003 Z.03538 Mute Swan Z.03005 Z.03539 Z.00546 Z.00458 Alpine Swift Z.03063.001-.003 Arctic Skua Z.00534 Common Swift Z.03778 Z.00539 Z.00438 Common Skua Z.03004.001-.002 Teal Z.03051.001-.004 Common Snipe Z.03267 Temminck’s Stint Z.00447 Z.03268 Arctic Tern Z.03144.001-.002 Z.03269 Z.03338 Z.03270.001-.004 Z.03339 Z.03271.001-.004 Z.03340 Z.00521

13 Black Tern Z.00488 Z.03437.001-.004 Caspian Tern Z.03045 Z.03438 Common Tern Z.03320.001-.002 Z.00498 Z.03321.001-.002 Bearded Tit Z.03523 Z.03322.001-.002 Z.00416 Z.03328 Blue Tit Z.03163.001-.004 Z.03329.001-.003 Z.03531.001-.012 Z.03330.001-.003 Z.03532 Z.03331.001-.003 Z.00421 Z.03332.001-.002 Coal Tit Z.03524.001-.007 Z.03333.001-.002 Z.03525.001-.010 Z.03334.001-.002 Z.03526.001-.011 Z.03335.001-.003 Z.03527 Z.03336 Z.00437 Z.03337 Crested Tit Z.00404 Z.00514 Great Tit Z.03533 Lesser Tern Z.03310.001-.002 Z.03534.001-.007 Z.03311.001-.002 Z.00427 Z.03312.001-.002 Long-tailed Tit Z.03528 Z.03313.001-.002 Z.03529.001-.010 Z.03314.001-.002 Z.03530.001-.008 Z.03315.001-.002 Z.00408 Z.03316.001-.002 Marsh Tit Z.03521.001-.006 Z.03317.001-.002 Z.03522 Z.03318.001-.002 Z.00422 Z.03319 Tree Creeper Z.03535.001-.006 Little Tern Z.03342 Z.03536 Z.00477 Z.00432 Gull-billed Tern Z.00531 Turnstone Z.03067.001-.004 Noddy Tern Z.03341 Twite Z.00445 Roseate Tern Z.03323 Egyptian Vulture Z.03042.001-.002 Z.03324 Grey-headed Z.03390.001-.005 Z.03325 Wagtail Z.03391.001-.005 Sandwich Tern Z.03327 Z.03392.001-.005 Z.00527 Z.03393.001-.005 Sooty Tern Z.00524 Z.03394.001-.004 Swift Tern Z.03039.001-.004 Z.03395 Whiskered Tern Z.03169.001-.005 Z.03396 White-winged Z.03134.001-.002 Z.00442 Black Tern Pied Wagtail Z.03397 Mistle Thrush Z.03130.001-.005 Z.03398.001-.005 Z.03136.001-.006 Z.03399.001-.005 Z.03439.001-.004 Z.03400.001-.006 Z.03440.001-.004 Z.03401.001-.005 Z.03441.001-.004 Z.03404 Z.03442 Z.00450 Z.03443.001-.004 White Wagtail Z.00456 Z.03444.001-.004 Yellow Wagtail Z.03402.001-.006 Song Thrush Z.03435.001-.004 Z.03403.001-.006 Z.03436.001-.005 Z.00398

14 Dartford Warbler Z.00425 Z.03484.001-.007 Garden Warbler Z.03469.001-.004 Z.00415 Z.03470.001-.004 Cedar Waxwing Z.03408 Z.03471.002-.004 Common Z.03407 Z.03472 Waxwing Z.00452 Common Z.03419 Grasshopper Z.03451 Wheatear Z.03420.001-.005 Warbler Z.00401.001-.008 Z.00462 Z.00402 Greenland Z.03418 Great Reed Z.03460 Wheatear Warbler Whimbrel Z.03017.001-.002 Icterine Warbler Z.03461 Whinchat Z.03423.001-.006 Z.00430 Common Z.037783 Marsh Warbler Z.03445 Whitethroat Z.03146.001-.003 Reed Warbler Z.03069.001-.005 Z.03467.001-.005 Z.03143.001-.004 Z.03474 Z.03145 Z.00434 Z.03147 Lesser Whitethroat Z.03473 Z.03159.001-.003 Z.00405 Z.03161.001-.004 Wigeon Z.03110.001-.002 Z.03452.001-.004 Z.03200 Z.03453.001-.004 Z.03201 Z.03454.001-.005 Woodchat Z.03540 Z.03455.001-.004 Z.00440 Z.03456.001-.004 Woodcock Z.00515 Z.03457.001-.004 Great Black Z.00487 Z.03458.001-.005 Woodpecker Z.03459 Great Spotted Z.03364 Sedge Warbler Z.03153.001-.003 Woodpecker Z.03365 Z.03160.001-.004 Z.00459 Z.03446 Green Z.03363.001-.006 Z.03447.001-.006 Woodpecker Z.00469 Z.03448.001-.005 Lesser Spotted Z.00468 Z.03449.001-.006 Woodpecker Z.03450.001-.006 Common Wren Z.03405.001-.006 Z.00414 Z.03406 Great Sedge Z.03080.001-.004 Z.03411 Warbler Z.00444 Willow Warbler Z.03485.001-.007 Fire-crested Wren Z.00409 Z.03486.001-.005 Wryneck Z.03081.001 - .010 Z.03487.001-.007 Yellowhammer Z.03140.001 - .005 Z.00400.001-.003 Wood Warbler Z.03482 Z.03483.001-.006

15 Examples of Eggs in the Ashford Collection

Examples of egg in the Ashford Collection

Whimbrel egg Accession no.Z.03017

Pink-footed Goose egg Accession. no. Z.03117

Yellow Bunting eggs Accession no. Z.00425

Gyr Falcon eggs Accession no.Z.03016

Note from John Ashfords catalogue on the Black-tailed Godwit egg.

16 Notebooks and Lists

The Ashford Paper Collection comprises of:

Handwritten notebook, ‘Catalogue of Eggs in the Collection’. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03488

This notebook contains a full list of eggs in the collection with reference numbers, dates, locations and descriptions of the eggs. Most of the entries appear to be written by John and date from 1866 to1893. There are also detailed descriptions of important individual eggs and how they were obtained, many are initialled by J.H.A.

Page from the ‘Catalogue of Eggs’.

The catalogue also contains:- • handwritten list of ‘The Birds Known to Breed in Britain’ (from Newman’s Birdnesting).

• many detailed collectors labels

• list of egg ‘monstrosities’ written by JHA.

• paper cutting of ‘The Birds Observed in Great Britain and Ireland’

• letter dated 1 July 1874 from James Lundie

17 Handwritten notebook, ‘Description of the Eggs of Birds which Breed in Britain’ (from ‘Macgillarrays History of British Birds’). Accession no SHRCM:Z.03822

This is a handwritten list of the description of the eggs of British birds copied from ‘Macgillarrays History of British Birds’. Written by J.H. Ashford, signed on the inside front cover.

18 Handwritten notebook, ‘Latin, Common and Local Names of British Birds’ (from ‘Macgillarrys History of British Birds’) Accession no. SHRC:Z.03498

A handwritten notebook of a list of Latin, common and local names of British birds copied from ‘Magillarrys History of British Birds’. Probably written by John Ashford.

19 Handwritten List ‘Stock of Duplicate Eggs’ Feb. 7 1891 Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03824 List of eggs, together with dates, locations and other notes stating that they were originally kept in a Coleman’s Mustard Box. This list was probably written by Charles Ashford.

Handwritten notebook, ‘Price Lists of Eggs’. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03490

This includes a list of the Flamborough Cliff Climbers, addresses and correspondence and Bird Notes. Shows comparisons of dealer’s prices and individual dealers, collector’s addresses and names in the back. These correspond to the egg sources in the Ashford Collection. There is also a newspaper cutting on Thomas Cooke listing British Birds eggs and dealers prices. Probably written by J.H. Ashford.

Handwritten notes, ‘Suggestions for Improving the Birds Eggs in Ludlow Museums’ Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03508 (Dots indicate transcribed words we are not sure are not sure of).

These notes were written by one of the Ashford’s, probably John and read:-

1. Wash all the eggs (on present cards) with camel hair brush and warm water to cleanse from ……. and dust – this will also tend to toughen the more fragile specimens. 2. Remove them off the cards by the same process, or if necessary by flotation in warm water. 3. Set them to dry with holes downward and affix the name to the different species cut from the appendix – carefully pasting the label over the hole. 4. Lay sufficient pink sheet cotton wool in the bottom of the case having previously gummed the bottom of the case. See that the wadding is laid edge to edge as true as possible not to show points of union. 5. Lay the specimens on the wool having first touched each with gum – the larger ones in two places to prevent ……. 6. Leave a little space between each order that the grouping may be just apparent. 7. Having first stuck a piece of thick notepaper at the back of each label page, (to stiffen it). When dry affix above the specimen the family or order – and underneath (i.e. below) the specific name. The above arrangement is the one I would suggest (after Yarrell) – the Raptors being at the head of the list. The accompanying label list compiled by my friend Mr. …. Marsden of Bath is the proper one for labelling in accordance with this classification. I have indicated the specimens as being under both labels – you may use your own ….. as to that. My prefixed numbers are nothing to go by except to indicate their order tot the number of species.

20 The numbers may be cut off the book labels over the small eggs if they are inconveniently long but I advise them all retained if possible. You doubtless have by you my errata sheet and will note the mistakes do not occur again. Of the Nuthatch and one or two more I could not tell without handling but if you compare my Nuthatches and the Great Tit you will see your Nuthatches are suspiciously like the Great Tits. Your Blackheaded Bunting must be labelled Reed Bunting, there having recently been discovered a continental visitor with ………. Pole that takes the name of Blackheaded Bunting ( E. melanocephala ). The Red Winged Starling is an American visitor and had better show the prefixed mark on the label. P.S. The five pencilled names are interesting species I would suggest places be reserved for and a small ticket under ‘Specimens …….’ Other specimens may be asked for in the like manner. You might resort to it where a little space is left at the foot of either of the columns. I doubt not that in course of time some friend or other will fill them in. The Mute Swans egg is rather underused owing to its being one of the first batches of eggs laid by one of my ……. birds (Mr. Theo Blake). Wood Pigeon and Stock Dove are synonymous.

21 Correspondence (Dots indicate words we are not sure of).

Letter from B. Rake to John Ashford (11 Oct 1870). Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03503.002

Dear Sir, In referring to your letter of the 23rd June last I see you mention having duplicates of Kittiwakes and Guillemots eggs which you would be willing to exchange for the cracked specimens of some of the commoner species. As my son has at present on kittiwakes in his collection he would be glad to have 2 or 3 in exchange for each of the following as you may think equivalent – Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Snipe, Land Rail, Jackdaw, Nightjar, Bullfinch, Cuckoo all well authenticated with locality and date. As I have room in my cabinet for a few handsome, brilliant, and finely marked ……….Guillemots. I can offer any of the above in exchange for such – but I don’t care much about the Guillemots unless exceptionally fine specimens. I should however be glad to add the Kittiwakes to my son’s collection and we can arrange an exchange he can bring them home with him….. and take back the others in exchange when he returns to school. Alice in reply will oblige. Yours sincerely, Beavan Rake

Letter from Charles Ashford to John Ashford (June 1879). Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03504

2 Trafalgar Terrace, Coalham, Redcar,

1 June 1879

Dear J. H. The box was despatched yesterday. I now enclose rough memos from my MSS catalogue given what particulars I can respecting the eggs. I intend my eggs ultimately for Will Harcourt but there is some little uncertainty as to the tenure of property here and as I cannot take them with me I select a few valuables for thy collection. This selection was made in great haste. The Eagle, Peregrine, Ospreys, Lepl’B, Sandpiper, Pine Grosbeak, Little Gull, and Gyrs are valuable (say £9 accord. to price list) and these I wish thee to have. There is a very decent collection left for Harcourt and he would hardly appreciate such treasures as Pine Grosbeak etc. The Eagle I will consider mine. The rest are a gift or rather payment of accumulated debts. Am busy packing – my cabinet is my white elephant but I must desert it I cannot possibly take it with me. I have been busy for 6 weeks putting it in order and just finished last week and now – well it must take its chance perhaps all will be well. In haste and affect Bro Charles Ashford

22

1163 Golden Eagle A.E. Pease 19.6.74 Jas. Sundie Cairngorm 8.6.74 one of two

1127-30 Dartford Warb. Crowfoot 10.10.72 Nr, Lewes 6.72 Sussex

B 874 Osprey (3) ‘’ 27.6.72 Wermland 6.5.71 same nest Sweden

B 642 Lapland Bunt. ‘’ 26.6.72 Muonioiska 6.70 marked also 1113

1112 Pine Grosbeak ‘’ 8.6.71

B 120 Br. Bill Sandpiper (2) ‘’ ‘’ ‘’ 6.67

1105 1106 Little Gull ‘’ ‘’ Lake Dadagoa 3.6.69

1101-02 Goshawk ‘’ ‘’ Wermland 20.5.70

B63 B332 Gyr Falcon ‘’ ‘’ Kantokeino ? Rec. by Crowfoot from Lapland where they taken by the same man employed by the late Mr. Wolley.

1004 Bearded Tit Crowfoot 14.10.71 Potter Heigham, Norfolk

952-4 Crested Tit ‘’ 15.5.71

23

Letter to John Ashford from B. Rake (21 June 1879). Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03823

The Old House, Fordingbridge, Salisbury.

Dearest Friend, I am much obliged by your kind present of Grasshopper Warblers eggs which came ...... to hand yesterday morning and Eustace is very much pleased with his – it was very unfortunate that the three...... eggs should be broken...... of duplicates...... is very low but if you...... a list of your ...... I shall be pleased to see if I have any duplicates that will be of use to you. With kind regards in which...... Your friend sincerely, Beavan Rake

Letter to John Ashford from ? Blackburn ( 25 may 1892 ) Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03489

Stone, Staffordshire.

My Dear Sir, If you would be so good as to send what Ringed Plovers you have and the clutch of 5 Reed Warblers I should be much obliged. I send you an egg of the Noddy with this and hope it will reach you safely. Yours faithfully, ………. Blackburn?

Letter to John Ashford from Beavan Rake ( 8 Aug 1870 ) Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03503.001

Friday night Aug 8/70

Sir, ……………..for your acceptance of the eggs of the …………….received from Mr…………on Saturday last…………….him at……..in the…………in the last week of April 1870. Mr…….. sent me a specimen which was cracked in the journey through the post………………..I send it to you, Yours, Beavan Rake.

24

Letter to John Ashford from B. Rake (10 June 1871 ) Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03503.003

Fordingbridge, Salisbury.

Dear Sir, On the other side I send a list of the eggs which please take in exchange for 14 Guillemots and 3 kittiwakes which we have kept. Return 5 Guillemots and 1 Razorbill which I don’t require. I am sorry I cannot send any of the more valuable specimens but prefer to exchange keep my duplicates at…………. In calculating the value I have taken the prices in Cooke’s list and…. For the eggs kept and sent in exchange. Yours sincerely, Beavan Rake. The following eggs are for the most part authenticated with date and locality. Should there be any difficulty in making out the inscription specimens, Beavan can explain. 1 Swift 2 Cuckoo 1…… 2 Night Jar 7……. 5 Reed Warbler 4 Wryneck p.s. I should be glad to hear that the eggs have arrived safely and at any future time to make further exchange.

(Note on letter added and initialled by JHA ):- Some of the Guillemots were cracked in the journey to myself as Beavan hadn’t packed them with sufficient care – Those returned ......

25 Printed Dealers Lists and Catalogues

Printed ‘Priced List of British Bird’s Eggs’ from Joseph H. Dunn. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03506

Printed price list of British bird’s eggs from Joseph H. Dunn, Naturalist, Stromness, Orkney, Scotland dated April 1867.

Joseph Dunn was a Naturalist from the north of Britain, who along with his father Robert Dunn built up a Natural History dealing business on the Scottish island of Orkney. Robert was thought to be the first individual Natural History dealer in Britain. He was originally a Hull taxidermist who made many visits to the northern isles of Scotland to collect bird’s eggs before he moved there in 1842. He became a leading supplier of bird’s eggs and skins and obtained specimens from all over the world not just the British Isles. Joseph took over the business when Robert died in 1859 and was one of the first dealers to do business using a printed catalogue. Joseph also ran a guesthouse in the Shetland Islands which was well used by many Ornithologists visiting the islands. Joseph was a pioneer in the way he worked his prices were very competitive and he built up a successful business. He died in a boating accident in 1872; he seemed to lead the way for Natural History dealers as after his death many other dealers began to appear.

The printed Joseph Dunn’s price list of British bird’s eggs is believed to be the earliest known copy in Britain. It is dated April 1867 in John Ashford’s handwriting and it is believed that he used this list, along with others from similar dealers as a guide for purchasing his own eggs.

26

Printed catalogue from dealer Thomas Cooke. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03505

Small catalogue from Thomas Cooke, Naturalist, 513 New Oxford Street, London, Contains a list of items for sale including cabinets, books, entomological apparatus, butterflies, hawk moths, British bird skins and birds eggs. Signed by J.H. Ashford on the front.

Thomas Cooke was in business in London from1857-1871 and was the only natural history dealer who dealt by catalogue at that time on mainland Britain. His son Edward took over the business in1877.

27

Printed Catalogue from A. L. Clarke. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03501

Small catalogue of ‘British and Foreign Birds-Skins and Eggs, Animal Skins, Lepidoptera, Shells and Cabinets’. From A. L. Clarke of Gloucester.

28

Printed Catalogue, ‘A List of British Birds’ 1887 by Howard Saunders. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03492

Contains handwritten memos by J. Ashford. Initialled on front cover by J.H.A.

Printed Catalogue, ‘A Revised List of Bird Skins and Eggs’ by A. Clarke. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03491

Catalogue from A. Lionel Clarke, Natural History Agent, Barton Street, Gloucester.

Newspaper Cutting, ‘Notable Birds Eggs’. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.03497

From ‘Daily News’ dated 7 March 1891.

29 Charles Ashford, Conchology Papers Collection

‘The Darts of British Helicidae’ by Charles Ashford. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.07126

Reprinted from The Journal of Conchology, 1883 – 1885. Signed on the front by John H. Ashford.

30

‘Land and Freshwater Mollusca round Christchurch, South Hants’ by Charles Ashford. 1887. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.07125

31 The ‘Journal of Conchology’, July 1894. Accession no. SHRCM:Z.07127

Contains an ‘Obituary to Charles Ashford’ by J.W. Taylor Signed on the front by E. Ashford (could be Emily Ashford, John Ashford’s wife).

32 Ashford Collections Held In other Institutions

Leeds City Museum www.leeds.gov.uk Holds a collection of British land and freshwater mollusca that belonged to Charles Ashford. The collection contains some of the oldest known examples of the darts of British snails. It houses 8 large drawers containing 43 boxes of Pisidium’s. These were examined by Peter Dance and A.W.Stelfox in 1958 and contain specimens that were collected by other collectors as well as Ashford. Several specimens date back to the early 1850’s, a time when the Pisidium fauna of Britain was little known. 269 of these specimens are documented.

Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke. www.stoke.gov.uk Holds the John Mansfield collection of gastropods collected by Charles Ashford in 1860s and 1870s from Ireland, England and the Isle of Wight. It was donated to the museum in 1931 by John Mansfield.

33