ORATACAP, MEMOIR OF ROBERT PARR WHITFIELD 389 



iio-ures of the Fourth volume of the Paleontology of New York were 

 drawn by his hand. 



It is not too much to claim that in a certain indefinable delicacy and 

 perfection of form and shading, these drawings of Professor Whitfield's 

 were unexcelled. Fossils had not previously been treated with such fine 

 discrimination. They almost created a new standard of comparison in 

 fossil portraiture. 



Somewhere about 1858, the graptolites of Canada had been put into 

 Professor Hall's hands, and the preparations of the drawings and pre- 

 liminary studies had been entrusted to Professor Whitfield. This diJBfi- 

 cult and trying work caused an impairment of vision. Dr. Xoyes was 

 consulted, and the hopeless prediction of a loss of eyesight was confidently 

 made. Fortunately this did not occur. At this time, while in consulta- 

 tion as to the condition of his eyes in New York City, Professor Whit- 

 field studied the Crustacea to be obtained along the shores of Long and 

 Staten Islands and prepared comparative studies which were usefully 

 incorporated in the diagnosis of Eurypterus. 



Professor Whitfield at this time studied the Troost crinoids which 

 were placed at Hall's disposal by Agassiz. The results of this study 

 were never published. When the threatened collapse of Professor Whit- 

 field's eyes interrupted his work in Albany, attempts were made to secure 

 provisional draughtsmen, but they seemed unsuccessful. 



The Devonian Lamellibranchs came into view, and their separation 

 and preparation for study was the last important work done by Professor 

 Whitfield in connection with the Xew York Survey. Drawings were 

 made up to Limopteria, when Professor Hall proposed a joint author- 

 ship. At this time, it was apprehended that Professor IMarsh was about 

 to do this work. To forestall this and to secure the results, already im- 

 portant, obtained by Professor Whitfield's examinations, the work was 

 hastened, and Professor Whitfield, almost unaided, completed the out- 

 lines and contents of a report to be embodied in the Eegents' reports. 

 His time from spring to the fall of 187-1 was occupied in this, and it was 

 quite independent work. Professor Hall reviewed the manuscript, short- 

 ened and revised it. Then took place the regrettable episode which per- 

 manently separated Professor Whitfield from the work of Professor Hall 

 and which in a measure embittered their subsequent relations. 



The work on the Lamellibranchs appeared as a pamphlet entitled 

 "Preparatory to New York Geological Survey." It was anonvmons. but 

 invited the inevitable inference that Professor Hall had written it. Its 

 distribution ceased upon Professor Whitfield's protest. It is perhaps" a 

 difficult question to determine the exact limits of discretion in speaking 



