Aquila 66. (1959)
IN MEMORIAM - Komjáthy Oszkár - Nemeskéri-Kiss Sándor - Páldy Géza - Schenk Henrik - Sziráczky Sándor
A szikesek kutatásait, a rizsföldi madárproblémák vizsgálatait is elősegítette. Meghalt Budapesten, 1957. V. 11-én. Az Intézet külföldi tiszteletbeli vagy levelező tagjai, valamint barátai köréből elhunytak : Dr. H. Boetticher (Coburg, 1958), Prof. Dr. J. Domaniewski (Zakopane, 1954), Dr. M. Hachisuka (Atami, 1953), Dr. J. Jirsik (Tepliceláz v. C., 1956), Sir N. B. Kinnear (London, 1957), J. Rapine (Paris, 1958), H. Th. L. Schaanning (Stavanger, 1956), Prof. Dr. G. Schiebel (Graz, 1956), V. N. Shnitnikow (Moszkva, 1957), Prof. Dr. H. Wachs (Dresden, 1956), Dr. J. T. Zimmer (New York, 1957). In Memoriam ! Dr. István Gaál, assistant professor, paleonthologist at the Zoological Department of the Hungarian Museum of Natural Science, born at 10th November 1877 in Ősagárd County Nógrád, always paid lively attention to ornithological research. In his clever books, by which he fought against superstition, he often mentions birds. For several times his name appeared in „Aquila” and „Kócsag”. Died in Budapest at the age of 80, on April 25th 1957. — Kálmán Kittenberger born at Léva on October 10th 1881. After having obtained his degree as teacher at Léva, he continued his studies in Budapest. Carpathian animal-life, however, attracted him more than studies and he accepted the position of a village teacher in the „csángó” community of Tatrang in 1902. In his spare time he learns the science of preparing animals in the preparatory of the National Museum and he widened his ornithological knowledge under the tutorship of Gy. Madarász The same year, as a skillful collector, he was sent to Africa by the National Museum. He left in December 1902 to collect and carry out research work mainly in the surroundings of Kilima-Ndjaro. Tropical deseases forced him to return 4 years later in the summer of 1906. At that time he came into personal contact with O. Herman, from whom he also obtained valuable advice and experience. In December 1906 he set out again, this time to Danakil Land. An account of his ornithological work was published in the last issue of „Aquila”. Between 1908 and 1912 he carried on his researches in the environs of Lake Victoria and in 1913—14 in Uganda. World War I. found him there, he was obliged to leave for India where he was interned by the British authorities near Ahmednagar for 5 years and was not able to return until the end of the year 1919. After World War I. he went to Africa twice, spending 6 months in Uganda in 1925—26 and another six months in Uganda and Belgian Congo in 1928—29. After the War he became editor of „Nimród”, a hunter’s magazine, which owed its high standard to him. He always showed a lively interest for ornithology. New species and subspeciesin his collections were chiefly described by Gy . Madarász, though there are foreign scientists too who dealt with the Kitten berg er collection, as for instance Reichenow. On account of his experiences in Danakil Land was published in „Aquila” (XIV, 1907, p. 175—178) and it was again to „Aquila”, as the annals founded by O. Herman, that he gave the summary of his lifework. In his numerous books and essays on hunting we find lively and colourful ornithological descriptions. After World War II he remains editor of „Nimród” for a while, then he got a position first at the Ornithological Section of the Museum for Natural History, then at the Scientific Institution of Forestry and for a time at the Zoo. By then he settled down at Nagymaros, a quiet spot by the Danube, where he carried on his experiments in breeding dogs and fur animals. His last years were filled out by writing and though he was often ailing — to use his own words — he „kept death at a distance”. His strong constitution, trained in hardships of the tropics, broke down in the summer of 1957 and his death on January 4th 1958 caused great sorrow among his friends and the large group of his admirors. His African collection, including birds, mammals, insects, furnished science with many new results. His kind heart, won him — even as a strict editor — many a fried and admiror. — Oszkár Komjáthy born at Homonna on November 15th 1881. He did excellent work on the protection