TRANSFER OF LOEW’S COLLECTION TO CAMBRIDGE 
91 
In the meantime I have done what I could to secure its safety. Before 
packing, I collated the whole collection with my manuscript Catalogue, and 
put in order those portions which were in confusion. Furthermore I tested 
the strength of the insertion of nearly every pin, and secured those which 
seemed loose. I write out separately a detailed technical report of what I 
have done, and of the condition in which 1 found the collection.” [This 
Beport is contained in my Chapter XIII.] 
“ Loew seems to be well enough, he can walk and talk and give useful 
information on whatever he is asked. At the same time, c’est un homme 
Jini. He cannot stand the slightest intellectual effort, any concentration of 
mind, or of memory. Writing the simplest letter is a great effort for him. 
His physician told me that his case was an ossification of the blood-vessels of 
the brain, which was incurable. But in ordinary intercourse one could stay 
some time with him without noticing anything. — I spent not less than 
jifteen, not very pleasant days of hard work in Guben, which of course will 
also benefit my Catalogue of Diptera. I obtained many data for it 
from the collection, and from some manuscript notes of Loew, but I had 
to spare Loew himself as much as possible. Next winter I intend to 
spend in Heidelberg.” 
“P. S. The height of the drawers will allow them to be placed inside of 
the Museum-drawers; so that Hagen will have no trouble about it.” 
This last detail is important, because after the safe arrival of the 
collection in Cambridge, Mass., the drawers containing it were pre¬ 
served in the Museum in the same state in which they had left 
Loew’s house. The expenses incurred by me for the packing of 
the collection, the freights, etc., were immediately refunded to me 
by Mr. A. Agassiz. 
In presence of the tragedy of Loew’s decline and death (an ac¬ 
count of which will be found in Chapter XV, “ Obituary Notice”), 
we must not consider the detail, but the total result of his contri¬ 
bution to American dipterology, which consists of a very large 
amount of descriptive work, always thoroughly conscientious, and 
of the realization of the long-cherished ideal of a typical collection, 
which was delivered by Loew in a perfect condition. This was the 
same Loew who, according to his biographer, had made in his youth 
(and kept) the vow not to partake of any warm food, until lie had 
paid off the debts contracted during the penurious years of his 
L T niversity studies 1 At the same time I must confess that if 
Loew had met my good will with more straightforwardness and 
