Ruschenberger.] j.rj\j [April 1, 



This statement is not even presumptive testimony that a previously 

 unknown natural force is now under command. Unsurpassed ability to 

 ascertain the structure of organisms of every kind, as Dr. Leidy had, is 

 not in itself sufficient to guarantee that the witness may not be deceived 

 as to the motive force that operates complicated machinery, especially 

 one who has never been interested in or studied any branch of physics. 

 The judgment of a backwoodsman on the sea-worthiness and fighting 

 qualities of the first battleship he ever visited would be as respectable. 



His membership in many societies at home and abroad is significant of 

 his widespread reputation. A list of them is appended. 



Prof Henry C. Chapman, of Jefierson Medical College, in his Memoir, 

 printed in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- 

 delphia, for 1891, has noticed in a summary but admirable manner each 

 of Dr. Leidy's leading publications. Lists of all of them may be found 

 in the Appendix. 



The general character of all his works is anatomical. They consist 

 almost entirely of technical descriptions of genera and species of existing 

 or extinct animals. Though highly creditable to their author, they inte- 

 rest very few persons besides votaries of natural history, because they are 

 not applicable to any apparent industrial use. Such writing does not 

 bring pecuniary reward. With the exception of his books on Anatomy 

 and reports to the Surgeon-General of the Army, he received no sub- 

 stantial compensation for any of his numerous essays. 



Inasmuch as botany and mineralogy were greatly preferred to other 

 branches of natural history in his early life, it is notable that he published 

 little, if anything of importance, in connection with either. 



Prof. Thomas C. Porter, of Lafayette College, among the foremost of 

 our botanists, who was his intimate friend during many years, wrote in 

 reply to inquiries : "To your other question I can give a definite answer. 

 Of course, as a master of biology, he had a comprehensive knowledge of 

 structural and physiological botany, but his interest in the plant world 

 was only a side-interest. He had a fair acquaintance with our native 

 flora, and his wonderful powers of observation were sometimes of great 

 service to his friends who were engaged in its study. Had he turned hi5> 

 mind from animals to plants he would, no doubt, have done the same 

 kind of valuable work amongst the latter as he had done amongst the 

 former. But I know of no thorough investigations of the sort made or 

 published by him. Looking over his species of Panicum one day, he 

 remarked to me that, if he could devote the time to it, he should like to 

 produce a monograph of that difficult genus. He had a herbarium com- 

 posed chiefly of specimens of his own collection. It is not large, but like 

 everything else which passed through his hands, in excellent condition." 



In his charming personal history of Dr. Leidy, Dr. William Hunt says: 

 "I remember walking with him along the grassy path by the seaside at 

 Bar Harbor one summer day. We were on our way to visit a Phila- 

 delphia lady who was herself an amateur botanist, and particularly well 



