VIII BULLETIN NO. 40, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



He joined The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York 

 in 1845, and now is a member, a fellow, and a patron of its successor, 

 The New York Academy of Sciences. Upon the organization of The 

 American Ornithologists' Union, in 1883, he became an active member, 

 and at its Eighth Congress, November, 1800, he was elected an honor- 

 ary member. Of The Linnaean Society of New York, he likewise is an 

 honorary member, having been chosen as such April 13, 1878. The 

 British Ornithologists' Union made him a foreign member in 1872, and 

 he is also connected with a large number of kindred societies in this 

 and other countries. 



Throughout his scientific career Mr. Lawrence has commanded the 

 confidence and respect of all of his contemporaries, with many of whom 

 he has formed cordial friendships, and it is with amazement that we 

 consider the long list of great names, from Vieillot to the present time, 

 that since the birth of Mr. Lawrence have impressed indelibly the bril- 

 liancy of their splendid genius on American ornithology. Wilson, Au- 

 dubon, Bonaparte, Brewer, Nuttall, Baird, Cassin, Giraud, De Kay, and 

 many more have come, and passed on, during the stretch of one life. Of 

 a verity American ornithological science has been favored in its leaders 

 during the last fourscore years. 



The beneficial influence of the labors of Mr. Lawrence, with pen and 

 pencil, on the progress of American ornithology has been great and un- 

 disputed, but it was particularly among the avifauna of the West In- 

 dies, Mexico, Central and South America that his most strenuous efforts 

 were exerted. All but 17 of the 310 new species of birds described by 

 him came from that region. Endowed with great power of analysis 

 and a remarkable patience, he applied these to the investigation of spe- 

 cific distinctions, and his conclusions have but rarely been questioned. 



A scrutiny of the titles of his numerous papers will fully indicate the 

 wide scope and excellent character of the work of this veteran orni- 

 thologist. 



L. S. F. 



New York City, August 1, 1891. 



