▁min eral og ical ▁department ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Museum ▁of ▁Natural ▁History . ▁He ▁became ▁ke eper ▁in ▁ 1 8 5 1 ▁upon ▁the ▁death ▁of ▁Charles ▁Kon ig ▁and ▁held ▁the ▁position ▁until ▁his ▁ret irement ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 0 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁married ▁to ▁Elizabeth ▁Ann , ▁daughter ▁of ▁music ian ▁G . ▁L . ▁J . ▁G ries bach ▁of ▁W inds or , ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁December ▁ 1 8 3 4 . ▁He ▁died ▁at ▁Put ney ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁January ▁ 1 8 8 8 . ▁ ▁Water house ▁was ▁the ▁author ▁of ▁A ▁natural ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁M amm alia ▁( 1 8 4 6 – 4 8 ). ▁The ▁work ▁was ▁begun ▁in ▁ 1 8 4 4 ▁was ▁done ▁slowly ▁as ▁the ▁original ▁French ▁publish er ▁M . ▁Hi pp oly te ▁Ba ill ière ▁was ▁unable ▁to ▁take ▁it ▁up . ▁The ▁two ▁volumes ▁covered ▁the ▁Mar sup ial s ▁and ▁the ▁rod ents . ▁The ▁famous ▁Arch ae opter y x ▁spec imen ▁was ▁acquired ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁cur ator . ▁Among st ▁the ▁numerous ▁species ▁he ▁described ▁are ▁the ▁num bat ▁( My rm ec ob ius ▁fas ci atus ), ▁and ▁the ▁Sy rian ▁or ▁golden ▁ham ster ▁( M es oc ric et us ▁aur atus ). ▁He ▁also ▁assist ed ▁Louis ▁Ag ass iz ▁with ▁his ▁N omen cl ator ▁Zo olog icus ▁( 1 8 4 2 ). ▁ ▁Publications ▁