ii6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



SKETCH OF DR. ASA FITCH. 



By E. p. THUKSTON. 



THERE is in the world a class of men whose characters, labors, and 

 attainments well entitle them to be called great, who are yet so 

 modest in their self -estimate, so unassuming in their knowledge, that 

 those who dwell about them recognize only the common characteristics 

 of average men ; or if, from peculiar ideas and habits, they are found to 

 be different, the difference is accredited them with complacent tolerance. 

 They are so guileless in life, so pure in thought, and withal so generous- 

 hearted, that in ordinary affairs the world holds them at a disadvan- 

 tage, quietly appropriating the fruits of their laboi-s with little if any 

 sense of obligation. To this class belonged Dr. Asa Fitch, well known 

 in the scientific world as a distinguished entomologist, whose writings 

 and investigations have contributed largely to our present knowledge 

 of American insects. 



Dr. Fitch was the descendant of a long line which in this country, 

 in early colonial times, was linked with the Brewsters of the May- 

 flower, and other distinguished families. He was the second son of 

 the Hon. Asa Fitch, M. D., a man eminent in the medical profession, 

 and equally so in various positions of public trust to which the people 

 called him. 



The subject of our sketch was born at Fitch's Point, Salem, Wash- 

 ington County, New York, February 24, 1809. His childhood was 

 passed on a farm, and until twelve years of age he attended the dis- 

 trict school. He was then sent to the academy at the neighboring vil- 

 lage of Salem, and at about the same time began a journal of the 

 interesting and important events of his daily life, which, with two or 

 three brief lapses, was continued until his death. Early entries in this 

 record betray the possession in a marked degree, even in his boyhood, of 

 keen observing powers, and a rare faculty for accuracy and lucidity of 

 description, characteristics which in later life grew into striking prom- 

 inence, and gave to his scientific work an exceptional value. He was 

 an unusually studious pupil, and early evinced a preference for the 

 natural sciences, botany first claiming his attention. In his fifteenth 

 year he began, according to a note in his diary, to arrange the botani- 

 cal collection of his preceptor in classes and orders. His studies at the 

 academy completed, he remained at home until his eighteenth year, 

 engaged a portion of the time as clerk in a neighboring store. 



In the spring of 182G his father sent him to Rensselaer School, at 

 Troy (now the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), where he soon be- 

 came deeply interested in natural history, zoology almost immedi- 

 ately awakening his enthusiasm. The bent of his mind toward en- 



