Hugh Whistler
Encyclopedia
Hugh Whistler F.Z.S.
, M.B.O.U.
was an English
ornithologist who worked in India. He wrote one of the first field guides to Indian birds and documented the distributions of in numerous notes in several journals apart from describing several new subspecies.
to Major Fuller Whistler and educated at Aldenham School
. He served with the India
n police in the Punjab
province from 1909 to 1926. On 2 October 1925 he married Margaret Joan Ashton daughter of Thomas Gair Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde and Eva Margaret James, on 2 October 1925. He died on 7 July 1943 leaving behind a daughter Benedicta and son Ralf.
, making notes on the occurrence and on the distributions of various geographic plumage variations. He also published a ten part introduction to the study of birds in India. He also make collecting trips to Spain
and Albania
, often in the company of Claud Buchanan Ticehurst
. Whistler's publications include the Popular Handbook of Indian Birds (1928). Two more editions of this publication were produced and the last was produced after his death. In this work he foresaw the value of popularizing observation based ornithology:
Whistler lived at Battle, East Sussex
during his retirement, where he was a Justice of the Peace
. He joined the British Ornithologists' Union in 1913 and in 1940 served as its as Vice-President. He visited Kashmir with Admiral Lynes and wanted to produce an account of the birds of Punjab and Kashmir, however this was not completed. The Whistler Prize of Sussex University, awarded to the best essay on natural history
or archaeology
, is named after him. His collection of 17,000 bird skins is now at the Natural History Museum
.
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....
was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
ornithologist who worked in India. He wrote one of the first field guides to Indian birds and documented the distributions of in numerous notes in several journals apart from describing several new subspecies.
Life and career
Whistler was born in MablethorpeMablethorpe
Mablethorpe is a small seaside town in East Lindsey on the coast of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Several small caravan parks exist around Mablethorpe. The town is administered with Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe, as the civil parish of Mablethorpe and Sutton...
to Major Fuller Whistler and educated at Aldenham School
Aldenham School
Aldenham School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged thirteen to eighteen, located between Elstree and the village of Aldenham in Hertfordshire, England...
. He served with the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n police in the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
province from 1909 to 1926. On 2 October 1925 he married Margaret Joan Ashton daughter of Thomas Gair Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde and Eva Margaret James, on 2 October 1925. He died on 7 July 1943 leaving behind a daughter Benedicta and son Ralf.
Ornithology
Whistler studied and collected birds and on retiring to England he continued his researches into Indian ornithology. He published extensively in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History SocietyBombay Natural History Society
The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many...
, making notes on the occurrence and on the distributions of various geographic plumage variations. He also published a ten part introduction to the study of birds in India. He also make collecting trips to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, often in the company of Claud Buchanan Ticehurst
Claud Buchanan Ticehurst
Claud Buchanan Ticehurst was a British ornithologist.Born at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, Ticehurst was educated first at Tonbridge School and subsequently attended St John's College, Cambridge...
. Whistler's publications include the Popular Handbook of Indian Birds (1928). Two more editions of this publication were produced and the last was produced after his death. In this work he foresaw the value of popularizing observation based ornithology:
Whistler lived at Battle, East Sussex
Battle, East Sussex
Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...
during his retirement, where he was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. He joined the British Ornithologists' Union in 1913 and in 1940 served as its as Vice-President. He visited Kashmir with Admiral Lynes and wanted to produce an account of the birds of Punjab and Kashmir, however this was not completed. The Whistler Prize of Sussex University, awarded to the best essay on natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
or archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, is named after him. His collection of 17,000 bird skins is now at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
.
Writings
- Whistler, H (1928) The study of Indian birds. Part I. The origin of birds. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33(1):166-176.
- Whistler, H (1929) The study of Indian birds, part II. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33(2):311-325.
- Whistler, H (1929) The study of Indian birds. Part III. Some external characteristics of birds. The beak. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33(4):776-792.
- Whistler, H (1930) The study of Indian birds, Part IV. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 34(1):27-39.
- Whistler, H (1930) The study of Indian birds. Part V. Some external characteristics of a bird. The foot. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 34(2):276-290.
- Whistler, H (1930) The study of Indian birds. Part VI. Some external characteristics of a bird. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 34(3):720-735.
- Whistler, H (1931) The study of Indian birds. Part VII. The Reproduction of birds. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35(1):89-103.
- Whistler, H (1931) The study of Indian birds. Part VIII. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35(2):312-324.
- Whistler, H (1932) The study of Indian birds. Part IX. The reproduction of birds. The egg. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35(3):635-644.
- Whistler, H (1932) The study of Indian birds. Part X. Migration. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35(4):848-860.