XXVIU MEMOIR. 



able to pursue the study of natural history any longer. I hope that some 

 others may be found to take up, follow and finish the history of Amei-ican 

 insects ; — hosts of Avhich are now waiting for a biographer to name and de- 

 scribe their characters." 



It is easy to conjecture the circumstance which seemed 

 thus finally to close Dr. Harris's hopes of obtaining leisure 

 for science. The Professorship of Natural History in the 

 University, which had remained vacant for want of funds 

 since 1834, was filled (April 20, 1842) by the appointment 

 of Dr. Asa Gray. During this interval, the duties of the 

 department had been partly discharged by Dr. Harris, and 

 it was inevitable that he and his friends should indulge a 

 hope of his permanent appointment. The matter was the 

 subject of much conversation at the time, and is several 

 times mentioned in his more familiar correspondence. It 

 was fortunate that the very eminent claims of Dr. Gray, 

 and the especial propriety of selecting a botanist to take 

 charge of the Botanical Garden, relieved the appointment 

 from all appearance of discourtesy to Dr. Harris. But all 

 lovers of science must regret that no way was found of 

 securing for its exclusive benefit the maturity of a naturalist 

 so gifted. 



In spite of all obstacles. Dr. Harris always contributed 

 very largely to scientific, agricultural and other periodicals, 

 and a catalogue of these papers, more or less complete, is 

 appended to this memoir. But he rarely came before the 

 public for any more extended work. He prepared in 1831 

 the catalogue of insects appended to Hitchcock's Massachu- 



