| Administrative History | Charles Harold Bouck, (1873-1952), born Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Lancashire, second son of John Augustus Bouck, a Baron of the Russian empire, and brother of John Augustus Bouck jr, who succeeded his father to the title of Baron. For many years he spent the the first half of the year living at 11 Hillsborough Terrace, Ilfracombe, Devon, and the second half of the year at Prospect Villa, Newburgh, a short distance south of the mill at Culterty. He moved permanently to Newburgh in 1941, though apparently retaining the Ilfracombe property. His interests were shooting and fishing and he had a fine collection of stuffed birds and paintings of zoological interest. When he died his items were incorporated into the displays in the Natural History Museum at Marischal College (where they were bequeathed) and they are now held in the Zoology museum at King's College campus. |
| Custodial History | Transferred via Alan Knox, Head of Historic Collections, via Sandy Anderson (who was a former employee at Culterty Field Station, Ythan, Aberdeenshire, who knew Bouck and who incorporated Bouck's collection into the University museums). The diaries had been given to a member of Zoology staff in the late 1990s and then were in posession of Professor David Raffaelli. In about 2007 Mr Anderson located these diaries in the old Culterty library and passed them to the archives. |
| Description | Diaries dated 1890-1944, 1946-1952. Plus three lists (game killed 1888 and 1889 and list of fish caught in 1889), a loose sheet showing totals of shot birds (undated) and a personal account of Bouck and how the diaries were found by depositor Sandy Anderson.
The diaries record the location, type and number of game killed and fish caught. He sometimes comments on weather conditions and provides more information on how he made his kill. They become more descriptive over time and there are occasional personal references thoughout the diaries.
A wide range of animals were killed, all of which were recorded, although sometimes in general terms e.g. Duck, Wild Geese, Rooks, Heron etc. but are usually only referred to by family name rather than identified individually. For example, Rooks instead of Hooded Crow, Jackdaw etc.
Those killed included:
Birds:
Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Coot, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dipper, Dove, Duck, Dunlin, Godwit, Golden Plover, Green and Black Plover, Green sandpiper, Greenshank, Grey (Silver) Plover, Grouse, Gulls including Pomarine Skua, Hawks including Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, Heron, Jacksnipe, Jay, Kingfisher, Knots, Lapwing, Magpie, Miselthrush/Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Owl, Oystercatcher, Partridge, Peewit, Pheasant, Ptarmigan, Redshank, Rockpigeon, Rook, Ruff including Reeve (female Ruff), Sand Rail, Snipe, (Lesser) Spotted Crake, Swan, Teal, Water Rail, Whimbrel, Widgeon, Wild Goose, Woodcock and Woodpigeon.
Other animals including:
Badger, Fox, Hare, Otter, Rabbit, Squirrel, Stoat (including an occasional white one), Trout and Weasel. |