perhaps the finest zoological genius that Italy has produced. That may seem a strong thing to say, for Italian ornithologists are men of high culture; Aldrovandi was at least the first of the race of ornithologists who have conferred so much honour on Italy. He was nobly born, but was only five years old when a fever carried off his father in his thirty-fourth year. The education of the family thus became the care of the young widow Veronica, who showed a wise discretion in the management of her fatherless children. Ulysses was the flower of her little flock, for he possessed "un vivacissimo talento, ed un particolar genio agli studi, corrispose mirabilmente alla brama ed attenzione materna." He was at first intended to follow mercantile pursuits, but his natural bent asserted itself, and eventually he obtained the professorship of natural history in the University of Bologna.
Having thus referred in brief to the youthful vicissitudes and later triumphs of the four great naturalists of the Renaissance, it is right that we should attempt to supply a slight sketch of what they did for ornithology.
Turner wrote as early as 1544, and he supplied a trustworthy account of the species of birds which he knew to be found in or to be absent from England. He added many details of their habits, and recorded their provincial names. He also aided his zoological brethren on the Continent, especially Gesner, who warmly and impulsively records the great assistance he had received from the most accomplished English naturalist of the day. Pierre Belon was shown a specimen of the Siskin which had been sent to his friend Antoine Martinell by "M. Turnerus medècin Angloys." Turner was a scholar of no mean ability, and his active mind was always pondering over Aristotle. When his boat was becalmed off the Dutch coast, he consoled himself for enforced delay by an endeavour to decide whether the "white semau wuith a black cop" that hovered round the little craft was the "Cepphus" of his favourite author. Turner had a sadly chequered career, and died a disappointed man; but his widow made a good second marriage. If the suffering which lined his brow with furrows and abridged his life was bred of his fiery intolerance of the views of others, at any rate he was a martyr to his convictions, and should be held in the highest
