Robert Cecil Beavan
Encyclopedia
Captain Robert Cecil Beavan (1841 - 3 February 1870) Corresponding member of the Zoological Society, served in India with the Bengal Staff Corps for 10 years. During his short life he collected specimens of birds and eggs at various locations. He contributed notes to the Ibis journal as wells as the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. He also collaborated with Allan Octavian Hume
. His collection of eggs and birds went into the Natural History Museum through the Tweeddale
and Godman-Salvin collections.
In 1864 Beavan worked at Barrackpore
and the winter of that year was spent in the Maunbhoom District, an area studied earlier by Samuel Tickell
and Edward Blyth
. His notes on this period were published in The Ibis (1865) entitled "Notes on various Indian Birds". While still in service he collected in the Andaman Islands
and with additional information from Colonel Robert Christopher Tytler
, wrote "The Avifauna of the Andaman Islands" in the Ibis in 1867. Beavan was sent home once to Britain due to bad health, and on his second such trip, he died at sea.
The species Pyrrhula erythaca, first collected by him, is sometimes called Beavan's Bullfinch (Also called Gray-headed Bullfinch).
His brother, Reginald, a Lieutenant in the 22nd Punjab Native Infantry was a keen sports hunter and contributed numerous bird specimens.
between 1865 and 1868. These included many notes of Colonel R C Tytler.
Reginald appears to have communicated some of Robert's papers to the Proceedings of the Zoological society after his death. The "Handbook of the freshwater fishes of India', was published posthumously in 1877 and is attributed to "Capt. R. Beavan, Bengal Staff Corps CMZS".
Allan Octavian Hume
Allan Octavian Hume was a civil servant, political reformer and amateur ornithologist in British India. He was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, a political party that was later to lead the Indian independence movement...
. His collection of eggs and birds went into the Natural History Museum through the Tweeddale
Arthur Hay, 9th Marquess of Tweeddale
Colonel Arthur Hay, 9th Marquess of Tweeddale , known before 1862 as Lord Arthur Hay and between 1862 and 1876 as Viscount Walden, was a Scottish soldier and ornithologist. He was born at Yester, Gifford, East Lothian. He served as a soldier in India and the Crimea. He succeeded his father to the...
and Godman-Salvin collections.
In 1864 Beavan worked at Barrackpore
Barrackpore
Barrackpore or Barrackpur is headquarters of Barrackpore subdivision in North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The town was a military and administrative center under British rule, and was the scene of several acts of rebellion against Britain during the 19th century...
and the winter of that year was spent in the Maunbhoom District, an area studied earlier by Samuel Tickell
Samuel Tickell
Colonel Samuel Richard Tickell was a British army officer, artist and ornithologist in India and Burma.Tickell was born at Cuttack in India. He was educated in England, returning at the age of nineteen to join the Bengal Native Infantry. He served in Bengal until 1840, when he was made commander...
and Edward Blyth
Edward Blyth
Edward Blyth was an English zoologist and pharmacist. He was one of the founders of zoology in India....
. His notes on this period were published in The Ibis (1865) entitled "Notes on various Indian Birds". While still in service he collected in the Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
and with additional information from Colonel Robert Christopher Tytler
Robert Christopher Tytler
Robert Christopher Tytler was a British soldier, naturalist and photographer. His second wife Harriet is well known for her work in documenting the monuments of Delhi and for her notes at the time of the 1857 revolt in India...
, wrote "The Avifauna of the Andaman Islands" in the Ibis in 1867. Beavan was sent home once to Britain due to bad health, and on his second such trip, he died at sea.
The species Pyrrhula erythaca, first collected by him, is sometimes called Beavan's Bullfinch (Also called Gray-headed Bullfinch).
His brother, Reginald, a Lieutenant in the 22nd Punjab Native Infantry was a keen sports hunter and contributed numerous bird specimens.
Publications
Beavan's chief publications are a series of notes in the IbisIbis (journal)
Ibis, subtitled the International Journal of Avian Science, is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the British Ornithologists' Union. Topics covered include ecology, conservation, behaviour, palaeontology, and taxonomy of birds. The editor-in-chief is Paul F. Donald. The journal is published by...
between 1865 and 1868. These included many notes of Colonel R C Tytler.
- Ibis, 1865, pp. 400-423
- XVIII. The Avifauna of the Andaman Islands. Ibis 9(3):314-334
- XXVI. Notes on various Indian Birds. Ibis 9(4):430-455 (1867)
- VIII. Notes on Various Indian Birds. Ibis 10(1):73-85 (1868)
- XIII. Notes on Various Indian Birds. Ibis 10(2):165-181
- XXXI. Notes on Various Indian Birds. Ibis 10(4):370-406 (Address South Penge Park July, 18, 1868)
- XXXVII. Additional Notes on various Indian Birds. Ibis 11(4):403-426
- (Accipitres) P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 390-402.
Reginald appears to have communicated some of Robert's papers to the Proceedings of the Zoological society after his death. The "Handbook of the freshwater fishes of India', was published posthumously in 1877 and is attributed to "Capt. R. Beavan, Bengal Staff Corps CMZS".
- Descriptions of two imperfectly known Species of Cyprinoid Fishes from the Punjab, India. By Lieut. Reginald Beavan, F.R.G.S., Revenue Survey Department of India. PSZL, pages 150-153, 1872. It is unclear if this work is by Reginald Beavan or whether he merely communicated them
- A communication was read from Capt. R. Beavan, Bengal Staff Corps, C.M.Z.S., containing a list of fishes met with in the river Nerbudda, Minar district of India. PZSL, p.685, 1873In the index volume for the PZSL, this entry is listed under the full name of Reginald Beavan.