THOMAS TRACY BOUVl 343 



nearly of the same density as not to be readily and certainly distinguished 

 by careful weigliing. 



Mr. Bouve's later contributions to scientific literature relate chiefly to 

 the geology of the Boston Basin, and especially of the South Shore. 

 These papers include: (1.) "The Genesis of the Boston Basin and its 

 Rock Formations," in which for the first time the importance of the ante- 

 cedent chemical decay of the older rocks in explaining the origin of the 

 conglomerates and slates is adequately recognized. (2.) " The Indian 

 Potholes or Giant's Kettles of Foreign Writers," a carefully illustrated 

 and in every way admirable account of the most interesting group of 

 glacial potholes yet discovered in this region. (3.) The chapter on 

 the geology of Hingham, prepared for the town history. This was by 

 far his most important study, and it was my good fortune to be intimately 

 associated with him in this work, which extended over a period of half 

 a dozen years. 



I have never found field-work more enjoyable or profitable ; and, as 

 in the Museum, I was deeply impressed by Mr. Bouve's unselfish single- 

 ness of purpose, his high appreciation of the educational value of the 

 local geology, and his painstaking thoroughness. He labored, not for 

 fame, but for the advancement of the community in which he lived. 

 lie never counted time or strength while there seemed to be any possi- 

 bility of verifying a fact or testing a conclusion ; and in this contribution 

 to the town history he realized in gratifying measure his ideal, which 

 was not merely to set forth the geologic structure of the town, but to 

 show his fellow townspeople that in its geological history Hingham is in 

 a large degree an epitome of the world, and that within the narrow 

 limits of the town are presented problems as stupendous and full of in- 

 terest as any tnat have ever engaged the attention of geologists. 



The part of this work relating to the surface geology or drift phe- 

 nomena was subsequently amplified and published as a separate paper in 

 in the Proceedings of the Natural History Society. Not content with 

 giving to Hingham and the world the intellectual results of his labors, 

 Mr. Bouve placed in the town library, as an additional stimulus to inter- 

 est in the local s:eolo(iy, a well selected and carefully labelled series of 

 the Hingham rocks. To these he subsequently added the main part of 

 his extensive collection of minerals. The arrangement and labelling of 

 this generous gift to the town, almost his last public work, was frequently 

 interrupted by his failing health ; and he experienced no little satisfaction 

 in not beinjr obliged to leave it unfinished. 



Nothing connected with his work on the geology of the South Shore 



