• MISCELLANEOUS 423 



proved in 1858. In the organization of the survey, in 1859, he was ap- 

 pointed Assistant State Geologist in the department of zoology; and in 

 the next year was appointed professor of zoology and animal physiology 

 in State Agricultural College at Lansing. 



In his work as zoologist to the State Geological Survey, in 1859, 1860, 

 and 1861, he displayed rare qualities as a naturalist, so that Mr. Walter 

 B. Barrows, in recording his death in the bulletin of the Michigan 

 Ornithological Club, expresses regret that many of the years he after- 

 ward devoted to the development of experimental agriculture "were not 

 spent in unraveling some of the important biological problems which 

 the State afforded, which his skill and preservance would surely have 

 solved." He was a "born collector," Mr. Barrows adds, "as the phrase is, 

 and his keen eyes, tireless industry^ and mathematical precision led to 

 the accumulation of thousands of valuable specimens and more valuable 

 observations." 



Mr. Bryant Walker, of Detroit, who knew Professor Miles well in later 

 years, and had opportunity to review his zoological work, regards the 

 part he took during this sevice in developing the knowledge of the fauna 

 of the State as having been very prominent. "The catalogues he pub- 

 lished in the report for 1860 have been the basis for all work since that 

 time." He kept in correspondence with the most eminent American 

 naturalists of the period, including Cope, Prime, Lea, W. G. Binney. 

 Baird, and Agassiz, and supplied them with large quantities of valuable 

 material. From the many letters written by these naturalists which 

 are in the possession of his friends, we take, as illustrating the character 

 of the service he rendered and of the trust they reposed in him, even 

 previous to his going on the survey, one from Agassiz, of Februarv 4. 

 1856: 



"Dear Sir: As you have already furnished me with invaluable 

 materials for the natural history of the fishes of your State, I am embold- 

 ened to ask another favor of you. I am preparing a map of the Geo- 

 graphical Distribution of the Turtles of North America, and would be 

 greatly indebted to you for any information respecting the range of 

 those found in your State, as far as you have noticed them, even if you 

 should know them only by their common names, my object being simply 

 to ascertain how far they extend over different parts of the country. If 

 you could add specimens of them, to identify them with precision, it 

 would be, of course, so much the better; but as I am almost ready for 

 the press, I could not for this paper await the return of spring, but would 

 thank you for what you could furnish me now. I am particularly in- 

 terested in ascertaining how far north the different species inhabiting 

 this continent extend." On the back of this letter was Dr. Miles' in- 

 dorsement that a box had been sent. 



A number of letters from Professor Baird, of 1860 and 1861, relate to 

 the identification of specimens collected by Dr. Miles, and to the fishes 

 of Michigan, and contain inquiries about gulls and eggs. Dr. Miles like- 

 wise supplied Cope with a considerable amount of material concerning 

 Michigan reptiles and fishes. 



While mollusks were the favorite object of Dr. Miles' investigations, 

 he also made studies and valuable collections of birds, mammals, reptiles, 

 and fishes; and he seems, Mr. Barrows says, "to have possessed, in a high 

 degree, that strong characteristic of a true naturalist, a full appreciation 



