SKETCH OF HENRY WALTER BATES. 121 



In a paper on the classification of the Rlwpalocera, or butter- 

 flies, Mr. Bates proposed a new system of arrangement by which 

 the progressive modification in structure, or the evolution from 

 a simple to a more specialized type, could be shown. Its merit is 

 attested by the fact of its almost universal adoption in later 

 works on evolution and natural history. 



Mr. Bates's long sojourn in the region of the Amazons, fruitful 

 as it was in scientific results, was detrimental to his constitution, 

 and he returned " a wreck of his former self." His " frame re- 

 mained enduring, but the elasticity had been taken out of it." 

 But " we may rest assured," says the Proceedings of the Royal 

 Geographical Society, "that nothing but physical prostration 

 actually brought about the long-deferred return to England, and 

 this abandonment of the anticipated visit westward, f to gather 

 the yet unseen treasures of the marvelous countries lying be- 

 tween Tabatinga and the slopes of the Andes.' " 



In 1SG4 Mr. Bates was appointed Assistant Secretary of the 

 Royal Geographical Society, a position in which, says The Athe- 

 naeum, for the last twenty-seven years he exercised an influence 

 " none the less effectual that he always carefully avoided any ac- 

 tion that might make it or himself conspicuous over the progress 

 in our country [England] of geographical science. He had the 

 satisfaction, while other sciences have more or less specialized 

 themselves, of seeing Geography throwing aside the restrictions 

 that bound her to mere records of discovery and surveying, and 

 taking her true place as a link between the other natural sciences, 

 viewing them all from her own separate standpoint, and bringing 

 out the points of connection between them, from a special and 

 novel aspect." He edited the Transactions of the society from 

 the beginning. In this office, according to Mr. Clements R. 

 Markham, " he was unwearied and most successful in obtaining 

 information bearing on geographical work from every quarter 

 and in all parts of the world. He supplied invaluable hints and 

 suggestions to the authors of papers, and he smoothed over diffi- 

 culties with never- failing tact. His own rich stores of information 

 were invaluable to all who needed help in their work, and over 

 and over again they enabled him to supply a missing clew in 

 some difficult inquiry, or to elucidate and piece together isolated 

 facts, and show their bearings on each other. In all their inter- 

 course with him, his colleagues, as well as the general body of 

 geographers and travelers, have always been as much impressed 

 by his ability and knowledge, and by the soundness of his judg- 

 ment, as by that simple and kind-hearted way of giving advice 

 which endeared the late assistant secretary to all who came in 

 contact with him." 



Among the notices of Mr. Bates's personal characteristics con- 



