524 ZOOLOGY 



Founding 6. Henry dreaded the growth of a great museum, 



the National i , , -111 



Museum because he knew that the available money was quite 

 inadequate to support it properly. Baird went to 

 Washington full of the idea of building up a museum, 

 ardently wishing to see a National Museum which 

 should eventually rank with those in London, Berlin, 

 and Paris. There was here a conflict of purpose, which 

 might easily have led to difficulties, but the relationship 

 between the two men was always ideal, without a cloud. 

 Baird was one of those tireless, ingenious, persuasive 

 men who always get what they wish, and make people 

 glad to give it. Thinking always of his cause, never 

 asking anything for himself, he captivated congressmen 

 and others by his sincerity and honesty. Financial 

 support was granted, and when Henry saw that the 

 Museum was to be taken care of by the nation, and 



f 



would not have to depend on the slender resources of 

 the Smithsonian, he was readily won over to Baird's 

 point of view. The efforts made by Baird to increase 

 the collections were innumerable. Government ex- 

 peditions were always expected to return with valuable 

 materials, but he also sought and obtained the aid of 

 private persons. He would correspond with any and 

 all who could possibly help, doing all kinds of personal 

 services for them in return for their contributions. 

 There was a very able naturalist, Robert Kennicott, 

 who had a plan to explore the little-known country 

 about Hudson Bay. Baird sat down and wrote to 

 numerous naturalists in these terms: "We are sending 

 Kennicott to Hudson Bay, I am myself subscribing 

 $50, and we expect great results. Will not you simi- 

 larly subscribe, and take your share of what is ob- 

 tained?' In this way about $500 was collected, and 

 Kennicott set forth. The results were excellent, and 



