NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 141 



Dr. Slack was born September 23(1, 1834. After graduating 

 from the Department of Arts of the University of Pennsylvania, 

 he made a tour of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Nile, and was 

 elected a member of the Academy in July, 185*7. During the same 

 year he presented valuable specimens of Egyptian natural history 

 and antiquities, for which tiie thanks of the Academy were formally 

 returned. The next year he presented for publication a paper, 

 wliich appeared in the Proceedings under the title " Catalogue 

 and Notes on the Egyptian Antiquities in the Museum of the 

 Academy'." In the spring of 1859 he graduated from the Medical 

 Department of the University, and at once applied himself to the 

 practice of his profession and the studj'^ of natural history. From 

 this time until his removal from the city he was an active and 

 enthusiastic worker in the Academy. His name appears in the 

 Proceedings as a constant contributor to the museum and library, 

 and also as the author of three papers on Mammalogy, the most 

 important of which was a monograph of the Prehensile-tailed 

 Quadrumana of South America. The work, however, b}^ which 

 he will be longest remembered as a member of the Society is his 

 Handbook to the Museum, the first edition of which appeared in 

 1861 and was rapidly exhausted. A second edition was imme- 

 diately issued, and of this, also, several thousand copies were sold, 

 showing that the Handbook supplied a want long felt, and which, 

 in consequence of the partial rearrangement of the collections, 

 aoain exists. 



Dr. Slack was elected Librarian of the College of Physicians 

 in December, 1864, and served until December 31, 186*7. He 

 removed from the city in 1868 to his estate in Warren Count}', 

 New Jerse}', which he named Troutdale, and where he resided 

 until his death, on August 24, 1874, actively engaged in pisci- 

 culture. So highly was his work in this field appreciated that he 

 was appointed one of the Fish Commissioners of New Jersey. He 

 also rendered important service as Assistant United States Fish 

 Commissioner under Prof. Baird, during the winter of 1873-*74, in 

 hatching nearl}^ half a million eggs of the Salmo quinnat received 

 from California, and in distributing the fry to various rivers of the 

 Middle and Southern States. His contributions to the literature 

 of practical fish culture during this time were numerous and valu- 

 able. 



Dr. Slack was a gentleman of unusuall}' varied attainments. 

 Although he was most devoted to the natural sciences, he exhibited 

 an active interest in literature and art. He possessed talents as 

 a musical composer which, if cultivated, would have secured him 

 a wide-spread reputation. As it is, his arrangement of Home, Sweet 

 Home has rendered his name familiar to thousands who know 

 nothing about his life-work. He extended hearty sympathy' and 

 valuable assistance to those who took an interest in the pursuits 

 to which he was devoted ; and these, as well as more advanced 



