Arthur Cleveland Bent 



Arthur Cleveland Bent died in his home in Taunton, Massachusetts, 

 in his eighty-ninth year on December 30, 1954. In keeping with his 

 ability, as a successful business man, to plan for eventualities he had long 

 foreseen the improbability of his living to complete the Life Histories of 

 North American Birds, and had taken steps to assure completion of the 

 work. Quite naturally, he turned to the Nuttall Ornithological Club, 

 which he had originally joined in 1888, later becoming one of the four 

 Honorary Members in the history of that organization. He arranged 

 through James Lee Peters for the Club to take ultimate charge. Subse- 

 quently, he chose me to head up a Committee of national distribution, 

 largely ornithologists he designated. 



In addition to Mrs. Bent, whose cooperation has been invaluable, 

 members of the Committee are Messrs. Arthur W. Argue in charge of 

 photographs, Charles H. Blake, Alfred O. Gross, William George F. 

 Harris, so well known already in this series for his work on eggs, Frederick 

 C. Lincoln, who has handled so much of the detail in Washington, Robert 

 A. Norris, Christopher M. Packard, and Lawrence II. Walkinshaw. 



Mr. Bent could anticipate completion. He could not foresee the 

 fervor with which ornithologists throughout North and Central America 

 have rallied to ensure fulfillment of his great undertaking. Than this 

 there can be no higher praise. 



Wendell Taber, 

 Chairman, Arthur Cleveland Bent Life History Committee, 



Nuttall Ornithological Club. 



