James DavidsonFZS (28 March 1849 – 25 June 1925) was a Scottish naturalist in colonial India. He studied birds and many aspects of Indian natural history during his career in the Indian Civil Service, mostly posted in the Bombay Presidency and central India.
Davidson was born at Maryhill near Glasgow to William James Davidson and Harriet, daughter of Mark Sprot. His early education was at St Andrews in the private school of Mr Douglas before he went to study followed by studies at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities. He qualified in the Indian Civil Services in 1872 and served in the Bombay Presidency until 1897. For his work during the famine years around 1876–78,[1] he received a special award from the government. He retired to Edinburgh, Scotland.[2]
During his service in India, he wrote extensively about the birds of the regions of present-day Uttara Kannada, Satara and Belgaum, corresponding with Allan Octavian Hume, to whom he gave his bird collection. His method included the use of local lads (including the Bhils) who located bird nests for him. He wrote numerous notes to Stray Feathers, the Journal started by Hume as well as to the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Just before his retirement, he made a trip to Kashmir with the lepidopterist and forest officer Thomas Reid Davys Bell. He was a member of the British Ornithologists' Union from 1883.[2][3]
Publications
Davidson, J. (1898) A short trip to Kashmir. Ibis, 7:1-42.
Davidson, J. (1886) Bird nesting on the ghats. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 1(4):175-183.
Davidson, J. (1885) Notes on the birds of Khandeish and Nasik. Vol. 1. 2 vols. Unpublished manuscript in BMNH archives, Tring, U.K.
Davidson, J. (1908) On the nesting habits of the Small Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 18(3):682-683.
Davidson, J. (1904) The eggs of the Small Sun-bird Arachnothera minima. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 15(4):726.
Davidson, J. (1898) The birds of North Kanara. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 11(4):652-679.
Davidson, J. (1898) The birds of North Kanara. Part II. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 12(1):43-72.
Davidson, J.; Bell, T R; Aitken, E H (1898). Butterfly Life in the Tropics of India. Psyche. Volume 8. Cambridge Entomological Club. pp. 177–179.
Davidson, J.; Bell, T R; Aitken, E H (1897). The butterflies of the North Canara District of the Bombay Presidency. IV. The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Vol. 11. Mumbai: Bombay Natural History Society. pp. 22–63.
Davidson, J.; Bell, T R; Aitken, E H (1896). The butterflies of the North Canara District of the Bombay Presidency. I, II, III. The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Vol. 10. Mumbai: Bombay Natural History Society. pp. 237–259, 372–393, 568–584.
Davidson, J. (1895) The birds of the Bombay Presidency. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 9(4):488-489.
Davidson, J. (1891) Notes on nidification in Kanara. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 6(3):331-340.
With E.H. Aitken (1890) Notes on the larvae and pupae of some of the butterflies of the Bombay Presidency Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 5:260-286, 349–375.
Davidson, J. (1882) Rough list of the birds of western Khandesh. Stray Feathers. 10(4):279-327.
Davidson, J. (1880) Letters to the Editor. Stray Feathers. 9(1,2&3):236.
Davidson, J. (1879) Letters to the Editor. Stray Feathers. 8(2-5):414.
Davidson, J. (1879) Letters to the Editor. Stray Feathers. 8(2-5):415-416.
Davidson, J. (1878) Letters to the Editor. Stray Feathers. 7(1-2):172.
Davidson, J. (1874) Letters to the Editor. Stray Feathers. 2(1,2&3):336.
References
^Digby, William (1878). The Famine Campaign in Southern India. 1876-1878. Volume 1. London: Longmans, Green, and Co.
^Warr, F. E. 1996. Manuscripts and Drawings in the ornithology and Rotschild libraries of The Natural History Museum at Tring. BOC.
March 12, 2023
james, davidson, ornithologist, james, davidson, march, 1849, june, 1925, scottish, naturalist, colonial, india, studied, birds, many, aspects, indian, natural, history, during, career, indian, civil, service, mostly, posted, bombay, presidency, central, india. James Davidson FZS 28 March 1849 25 June 1925 was a Scottish naturalist in colonial India He studied birds and many aspects of Indian natural history during his career in the Indian Civil Service mostly posted in the Bombay Presidency and central India Davidson was born at Maryhill near Glasgow to William James Davidson and Harriet daughter of Mark Sprot His early education was at St Andrews in the private school of Mr Douglas before he went to study followed by studies at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities He qualified in the Indian Civil Services in 1872 and served in the Bombay Presidency until 1897 For his work during the famine years around 1876 78 1 he received a special award from the government He retired to Edinburgh Scotland 2 During his service in India he wrote extensively about the birds of the regions of present day Uttara Kannada Satara and Belgaum corresponding with Allan Octavian Hume to whom he gave his bird collection His method included the use of local lads including the Bhils who located bird nests for him He wrote numerous notes to Stray Feathers the Journal started by Hume as well as to the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society Just before his retirement he made a trip to Kashmir with the lepidopterist and forest officer Thomas Reid Davys Bell He was a member of the British Ornithologists Union from 1883 2 3 Publications EditDavidson J 1898 A short trip to Kashmir Ibis 7 1 42 Davidson J 1886 Bird nesting on the ghats Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 1 4 175 183 Davidson J 1885 Notes on the birds of Khandeish and Nasik Vol 1 2 vols Unpublished manuscript in BMNH archives Tring U K Davidson J 1908 On the nesting habits of the Small Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 18 3 682 683 Davidson J 1904 The eggs of the Small Sun bird Arachnothera minima Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 15 4 726 Davidson J 1898 The birds of North Kanara Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 11 4 652 679 Davidson J 1898 The birds of North Kanara Part II Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 12 1 43 72 Davidson J Bell T R Aitken E H 1898 Butterfly Life in the Tropics of India Psyche Volume 8 Cambridge Entomological Club pp 177 179 Davidson J Bell T R Aitken E H 1897 The butterflies of the North Canara District of the Bombay Presidency IV The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society Vol 11 Mumbai Bombay Natural History Society pp 22 63 Davidson J Bell T R Aitken E H 1896 The butterflies of the North Canara District of the Bombay Presidency I II III The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society Vol 10 Mumbai Bombay Natural History Society pp 237 259 372 393 568 584 Davidson J 1895 The birds of the Bombay Presidency Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 9 4 488 489 Davidson J 1891 Notes on nidification in Kanara Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 6 3 331 340 With E H Aitken 1890 Notes on the larvae and pupae of some of the butterflies of the Bombay Presidency Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 5 260 286 349 375 Davidson J 1882 Rough list of the birds of western Khandesh Stray Feathers 10 4 279 327 Davidson J 1880 Letters to the Editor Stray Feathers 9 1 2 amp 3 236 Davidson J 1879 Letters to the Editor Stray Feathers 8 2 5 414 Davidson J 1879 Letters to the Editor Stray Feathers 8 2 5 415 416 Davidson J 1878 Letters to the Editor Stray Feathers 7 1 2 172 Davidson J 1874 Letters to the Editor Stray Feathers 2 1 2 amp 3 336 References Edit Digby William 1878 The Famine Campaign in Southern India 1876 1878 Volume 1 London Longmans Green and Co a b Anon 1925 Obituary James Davidson Ibis 67 4 919 923 doi 10 1111 j 1474 919x 1925 tb02139 x ISSN 1474 919X Warr F E 1996 Manuscripts and Drawings in the ornithology and Rotschild libraries of The Natural History Museum at Tring BOC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Davidson ornithologist amp oldid 1110904161, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
