hen Horace Alexander died in Pennsylvania on 30th September 1989, aged 100, he left a reputation in ornithology as the complete enthusiast. 'HG', as he was referred to in distinction from his also-famousbirdwatching brother 'WB', took down-to-earth pleasure from just watching birds for their own sake while exercising the discipline of cautious observation. The youngest of four brothers of a family with two centuries of Quaker ancestors, he, and they, turned to natural history in the absence of enjoyment of music, drama and other arts forbidden bytheir calling. His diligent notes about birds were begun in 1898, and his first contribution to British Birds was made in 1909. Born in Croydon on 30th July 1889, and educated at Bootham and King's College, Cambridge, his main profession from 1919 to 1943 was as lecturer in international affairs, then as Director of Studies, at the Quaker College, Woodbrooke, Birmingham. Between 1919 and 1955, work for the anti-opium campaign and Quaker relief and reconciliation took him often to India, where he was held in the highest regard. Gandhi, with whom he had a long association during the country's struggle for independence, and visited when he was in prison, spoke of him as one of India's best friends. In 1984, Horace Alexander was awarded the Padma Bhushan medal, the highest honour given to a non-Indian civilian. Travelling throughout the country, sometimes with Salim Ali, his practised eye brought invaluable additions to the knowledge of the birds of the sub-continent, thus following the classic role