692 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Gundlach's mother soiight vainly to guide his steps through 

 the mazes of theological studies ; and although he at one time, in 

 deference to her wishes, began a course, he was not destined to 

 comjjlete it. Dr. Maurice Herold, Professor of Zoology, offered 

 him employment in the university as conservator and preparator 

 a position in which he had advantageous opportunities for 

 prosecuting the embryological work in insects which he had 

 undertaken. Enjoying as the son of a professor the privilege of 

 gratuitous instruction, he was enabled, while assisting Dr. Herold 

 and serving as his substitute, to take three successive courses in 

 zoology. He obtained, in 1837, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 

 and Master of the Liberal Arts ; while he had also been elected to 

 the Society of Natural History of Cassel. 



Gundlach was invited by Dr. Julius Hill, a Dutch physician, 

 to visit Surinam, where a company had been organized for mak- 

 ing collections ; and by the Cuban, Carlos Booth, who had com- 

 pleted his studies at London and Cassel, to go with him to Cuba. 

 He accepted the latter invitation, and, sailing from Hamburg 

 early in November, 1838, landed at Havana, January 5, 1839. 



He at once made a favorable impression in Cuba. He might 

 have speculated in the results of his researches, but refused to do 

 so, giving as the reason, when asked by the writer of this sketch, 

 " Booth having incorporated me into his family, I had no expenses 

 and could send these objects gratuitously to Cassel.'* 



The venerable Simdn de Cardenas wrote of him at the time 

 that " of a modesty equaled by none, he ever ignores the price of 

 his works. Tolerant with all, he never criticises. He only knows 

 how to give good advice. His amiable character is invariably 

 the same. . . . That science fills his soul and heart is a fact that 

 needs no demonstration. The impetuosity of violent passions is 

 something entirely unknown to his nature, and for him there is 

 nothing in the world but study and friendship." 



Juan Clemente Zenea, in his Revista Habanera (1861), spoke 

 of Gundlach's zeal and devotion to science, his modesty and un- 

 selfishness, in terms of the highest eulogy, saying, among other 

 things : " For the last twenty years our richest planters have been 

 disputing among themselves for the right and pleasure of giving 

 him hospitality and attending to his needs, which are few, and 

 he only cares for the study of science. . . . He is a naturalist as 

 others are soldiers. . . . He is entirely unconscious of his distinc- 

 tion. He unassumingly communicates his vast knowledge to 

 whoever may feel inclined to hear him, like a prophet inspired 

 by a superior will." 



He established himself with Booth at Cardenas, in 1841. Dur- 

 ing one of his excursions he shot a hummingbird, which he 

 found to be of a new species and designated it after Mrs. Booth, 



