30 EBYTHEA. 



he, in common with the other botanists of the day, regarded 

 the summary dismissal of the late Botanist of the Depart- 

 ment, Dr. Parry. He hesitated also to give up the freedom 

 of private life, which left him at liberty to devote himself to 

 study, to the care of his family, and to the promotion of the 

 educational and literary interests of his town. 



About eleven years ago Mr. Bebb suffered a severe attack 

 of pleurisy, from the effects of which he never fully 

 recovered. This rendered it necessary for him in later 

 years to pass the cold months in Florida or Georgia. Finding 

 himself, at the approach of the present winter in very feeble 

 health he determined to try the milder climate of Southern 

 California, and on the fifth of November he arrived, 

 accompanied by his wife, at San Bernardino. But his disease 

 was too far advanced to permit any benefit to result from the 

 change, he continued to fail, and on the fifth of December 

 he died, in the sixty-second year of his age. 



Mr. Bebb's love of botany began in his youth, while still 

 living in the Ohio home, and he soon made himself familiar 

 with the plants of his neighborhood. His interest in the 

 study was confirmed by the removal to Illinois, where he 

 found himself in the midst of a new flora, then still in its 

 native beauty and variety. While living here his studies 

 were promoted by the kindness of his father, who supplied 

 the young student with the best botanical books of the 

 day. 



For a time he gave much study to the Junci, and to him 

 Dr. Engelmann was indebted for many valuable observations 

 and suggestions. 



It was not till later that his attention was directed to the 

 Salices. When the material on which the Botany of 

 California was based, was being studied, Mr. Bebb was 

 requested to undertake the willows, more, perhaps, because 

 he was able and willing to devote to them the patience 

 and time that their difficulty and obscurity demanded, 

 than because of any predilection for them. He discharged 

 the task with characteristic thoroughness and discrimination, 



