William Yarrell
Encyclopedia
William Yarrell was an English
bookseller and naturalist
.
Yarrell is best known as the author of The History of British Fishes (2 vols., 1836) and The History of British Birds (2 vols., 1843). The latter went into several editions and was the standard reference work for a generation of British ornithologists. He was also the first person to describe the Bewick's Swan
in 1830, distinguishing it from the larger Whooper Swan
.
in Westminster
, where his father and uncle ran a newspaper agency. He studied at Ealing. In 1802 he became a clerk with Messrs. Herries Farquhar and Co. but left to join his cousin to continue his father's business.
He acquired the reputation of being the best shot and the best angler in London, and soon also became an expert naturalist. He became a member of the Royal Institution
in 1817 and he made his first publication at the age of 40 in 1825 "On the Occurrence of some Rare British Birds." This was published in the 2nd volume of the 'Zoological Journal' and he later became one of the editors as well as being elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society. He wrote in 1827 on the structure of the tracheae of birds, plumage changes in pheasants. He interacted with Bewick, Sir William Jardine and Selby. His major works were "A History of British Fishes" (1836) and "A History of British Birds" (1843). These were so popular that the publisher Van Voorst stated that the sum received from the sales exceeded £4000.
He was one of the original members of the Zoological Society of London
. In 1833, he was a founder of what became the Royal Entomological Society of London
.
He died during a trip to Great Yarmouth
and a memorial was later erected in St James Church, Piccadilly. He was buried in the churchyard of Bayford in Hertfordshire, with the epitaph chosen by him "He was the survivor of twelve brothers and sisters, who, with their father and mother, are all placed close to this spot, first and last, The earliest summon'd and the longest spared — Are here deposited."
Yarrell has a number of species named after him, including the birds Yellow-faced Siskin
Carduelis yarrellii and Chilean Woodstar
Eulidia yarrellii and the fish Yarrell's Blenny Chirolophis ascanii. The British sub-species of the White Wagtail
, the Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii, was also named for him.
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...
bookseller and naturalist
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...
.
Yarrell is best known as the author of The History of British Fishes (2 vols., 1836) and The History of British Birds (2 vols., 1843). The latter went into several editions and was the standard reference work for a generation of British ornithologists. He was also the first person to describe the Bewick's Swan
Bewick's Swan
The Tundra Swan is a small Holarctic swan. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species, Cygnus bewickii of the Palaearctic and the Whistling Swan, C. columbianus proper, of the Nearctic...
in 1830, distinguishing it from the larger Whooper Swan
Whooper Swan
The Whooper Swan , Cygnus cygnus, is a large Northern Hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American Trumpeter Swan. An old name for the Whooper Swan is Elk; it is so called in Francis Willughby and John Ray's Ornithology of 1676.-Description:The Whooper Swan is similar in...
.
Life and work
He was born in Duke Street, St. James'sSt. James's
St James's is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. It is bounded to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James's Park and to the east by The Haymarket.-History:...
in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, where his father and uncle ran a newspaper agency. He studied at Ealing. In 1802 he became a clerk with Messrs. Herries Farquhar and Co. but left to join his cousin to continue his father's business.
He acquired the reputation of being the best shot and the best angler in London, and soon also became an expert naturalist. He became a member of the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
in 1817 and he made his first publication at the age of 40 in 1825 "On the Occurrence of some Rare British Birds." This was published in the 2nd volume of the 'Zoological Journal' and he later became one of the editors as well as being elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society. He wrote in 1827 on the structure of the tracheae of birds, plumage changes in pheasants. He interacted with Bewick, Sir William Jardine and Selby. His major works were "A History of British Fishes" (1836) and "A History of British Birds" (1843). These were so popular that the publisher Van Voorst stated that the sum received from the sales exceeded £4000.
He was one of the original members of the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
. In 1833, he was a founder of what became the Royal Entomological Society of London
Royal Entomological Society of London
The Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
.
He died during a trip to Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
and a memorial was later erected in St James Church, Piccadilly. He was buried in the churchyard of Bayford in Hertfordshire, with the epitaph chosen by him "He was the survivor of twelve brothers and sisters, who, with their father and mother, are all placed close to this spot, first and last, The earliest summon'd and the longest spared — Are here deposited."
Yarrell has a number of species named after him, including the birds Yellow-faced Siskin
Yellow-faced Siskin
The Yellow-faced Siskin is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family.It is found in Brazil and Venezuela....
Carduelis yarrellii and Chilean Woodstar
Chilean Woodstar
The Chilean Woodstar is a small bird in the hummingbird family, Trochilidae. It is restricted to northernmost Chile with reports from southern Peru. Its natural habitats are dry shrubland and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss and is classed as an endangered species...
Eulidia yarrellii and the fish Yarrell's Blenny Chirolophis ascanii. The British sub-species of the White Wagtail
White Wagtail
"Pied Wagtail" redirects here. For the related African bird, see African Pied Wagtail.The White Wagtail is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa...
, the Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii, was also named for him.
Publications
- Observations on the Tracheae of Birds, with Descriptions and Representations of several not hitherto figured. — Linn. Trans. XV. 378.
- Description of a species of Tringa, killed in Cambridgeshire, new to England and Europe. — Ibid. xvi. 109.
- On the Organs of Voice in Birds. — Ibid. xvi. 305.
- On a new species of Wild Swan, taken in England, and hitherto confounded with the Hooper. — Ibid. xvi. 445.
- Description of the Organs of Voice in a new species of Wild Swan (Cygnus buccinator, Richards.). — Ibid. xvii.
- Descriptions of Three British Species of Freshwater Fishes, belonging to the genus Leuciscus of Klein. — Ibid. xvii. 5.
- On the Habits and Structure of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda of Linnaeus). — Ibid. xxi. 155.
- Notice of an Interwoven Mass of Filaments of Conferva fluviatilis of extraordinary size. — Proc. Linn. Soc. i. p. 65.
- On the Influence of the Sexual Organ in modifying External Character. — Journ. Linn. Soc. i. p. 76.