Dealers, breeders, preservers and staffers - some late nineteenth century 'Naturalists' in Yorkshire with brief biographical notes

摘要

What is a Naturalist? One who spends his or her leisure time in the field, often with binoculars or a lens, collecting data, identifying animals and plants and perhaps in conservation work or is he/she a taxidermist, preserver, or a professional birdbreeder and dealer? It appears 'Naturalists' could sit comfortably in more than one category! Dictionary definitions help - The Chambers Dictionary states "Naturalist - one who studies nature, more particularly zoology and botany, esp. zoology, and esp.in the field: a dealer in live animals and articles of use and interest to students of nature, often a taxidermist" and in The Concise Oxford Dictionary "student of animals or plants; dealer in cage animals, dogs, etc.; taxidermist".