Natural history Edward Hamilton Aitken

illustration of habits of suncus murinus

he worked @ museum of bombay natural history society, organization founded , published many of notes in journal of bombay natural history society. first joint-editor of journal, secretary insect division of bnhs , president time.

in 1 famous case subordinate of eha working in salt department in kanara came bungalow snake on shoulder. eha wrote man had seen 2 snakes fighting , said smashed @ them stick-one got away, killed 1 , have brought you-what it ? king cobra, , have not killed replied eha. snake put in crate , sent bnhs note may not survive journey. if not know smell. if there no smell careful. snake survived 2 years in bnhs.

he proponent of study of living birds opposed bird collectors of time. wrote in birds of bombay

the first steps may have taken through blood, , must own in boyhood murderous in heart, not in hand, had no gun, catapult ; , thankful. seldom killed anything, while hours spent in stalking game , watching chance of getting fair shot taught me more personal habits of birds have learned in other way. since have shot great many beautiful , harmless birds ever-increasing reluctance, there no other means of becoming acquainted them. descriptions in jerdon , barnes , oates presuppose specimen in hand, measured foot-rule , examined feather feather. there no museum resort, , seldom lot fall in enlighten me if asked, bird that ? gladly therefore try make atonement helping others know without killing, far lies in me.

in similar manner studied life-histories of butterflies unlike butterfly collectors of time.

scooties haplochilus lineatus

he maintained aquarium , made sunday-morning expeditions ravines @ of malabar hill search mosquito larvae feed inmates. mr. aitken investigated capabilities destruction of larvae, of small surface-feeding fish ivory-white spot on top of head, had found @ vihar in stream below bund. took him time identify these particular fishes (haplochilus lineatus) called scooties lightning rapidity of movements. these stocked ornamental fountains of bombay keep them becoming breeding-grounds mosquitoes, , largely used throughout india purpose.

t. r. bell, naturalist friend, writing of him after death said

he man in every sense of word; religious man, pleasant companion, broad minded, exceedingly tolerant of weaknesses of others, gentle , lovable , rare example of man without single enemy.

eha once wrote:

he ear untaught enjoy harmonious discord of birds, travels alone when might have company.

he kept many pets @ home , surgeon-general bannerman noted in preface eha s books found himself having go on unpleasant trips primeval forests of cumballa hill mosquito larvae feed fish. in appearance eha has been described long, thin, erect, bearded man...with typically scots face lit humorous twinkle 1 came know well. photograph taken in 1902 shows fringe of hair encircling bald head commented upon bannerman condition kemp s equatorial hair douche had not been able prevent .

despite popular reception book, contemporary review in pall mall gazette of book tribes on frontier termed work being entirely based on kind of humour established phil robinson. review said:

now, may safely said if mr robinson had never written in indian garden e.h.a. never have written ... every 1 of mr. robinson s little tricks of manner have been faithfully , ludicrously copied: smalle ingenious tags classical poets, quaint mixture of solomon , darwin, funny little jumps pure science pure nonsense, nay, phrases, obscene saturnalia of frogs, or promise , potency of mosquito- reproduced in minute imitativenss faithful admirer .