Howard Saunders

Howard Saunders (September 16, 1835 - October 20, 1907) was a British ornithologist.

Saunders was born in London and received his early education iat Leatherhead and Rottingdean. Subsequently he earned his money as a merchant banker. This allowed him to travel widely. In 1855 he went to Brazil and Chile, returning in 1862. He then devoted his time to the investigation of the avifauna of Spain, publishing a number of articles on the subject in "The Ibis", and visiting the Pyrenees in 1883 and 1884. He also published articles on the birds of Switzerland in 1891, and an account of "The Distribution of Birds in France" (1893).

Saunders was an expert on gulls and terns. His books included "Sternae" (1889), "An Illustrated Manual of British Birds" (1889) and "Catalogue of the Gaviae and Tubinares in the Collection of the British Museum" (1896, with Osbert Salvin).

Saunders was secretary of the British Ornithologists' Union from 1901 to 1907, and first Secretary and Treasurer of the British Ornithologists' Club. He was also an active member of the Zoological, Linnean and Royal Geographical Societies.

Both the Saunders's Gull and the Saunders's Little Tern were named for him.

References

*Mullens and Swann - "A Bibliography of British Ornithology"