XVIII BIOGRAPHICAL 8KETCH OF PHILIP LUTLKY SCLATER. 



abreast of the progress of zoological science. That these opportunities have not 

 been neglected is shown by the extraordinary array of titles, more than 1,200 in 

 number, contained in his bibliographj'. The vast majority of these papers relate 

 to the birds of tropical America, in which field the name of Sclater, like that of 

 our own lamented Lawrence, will always occupy an exalted position. 



Sclater is a good type of the industrious, systematic naturalist. His official 

 position and i)ersonal energy brought him a wealth of new material. This he 

 described in an endless series of papers on new species and new genera. Then, as 

 additional specimens and additional species came in, he promjitly iniblished more 

 comprehensive treatises in the form of synopses of genera or larger assemblages. 

 And later, when still ampler material cast new light on the subject, he in numer- 

 ous instances revised the same groups over again, correcting early errors, adding 

 new species, and bringing the history of the groups down to date. These synop- 

 ses and monographic revisions are the most important and useful of Sclater "s con- 

 tributions to science. Their number is amazing. Among the gi'oups treated are 

 the Orioles, Tanagers, Callistes, Pheasants, Cuckoos, Honey Creepers, Jacamars, 

 Puff Birds , American Ant Birds ( Form lea riidce ) , American Rails, and many others. 

 In addition to all these, his Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium and Argentine 

 Ornithology have come to be indispensable to the student of South American 

 birds. And finally, as a fitting climax to this remarkable series, he has lived to 

 erect his own monument in the admirable volumes he has contributed to the 

 British Museum's Catalogue of Birds. 



But Sclater 's contributions to zoological science are not limited to birds. In 

 the field of mammals he has published many important papers, illustrated by 

 colored plates of high merit. Among the more useful of these are articles on the 

 Deer, Rhinoceroses, and African Monkeys. He is now publishing, under joint 

 aiithorship with Mr. Oldfield Thomas, a superb illustrated work on the antelopes 

 and their allies, '"The Book of Antelopes," the second volume of which is already 

 well advanced. That the period of his activities may be continued far into the 

 fiiture is the earnest hope of his American friends. 



Prof. Joel Asaph jVllen, of the American Museiinu of Natural His- 

 tory, New York City, writes: 



It is j)articularly fitting that the series of bibliographies published bj- the United 

 States National Museum should include the writings of Philip Lutley Sclater, who 

 has been for many years the most eminent authority and one of the most pro- 

 lific writers on the ornithology of Central and South America. "While Mr. Scla- 

 ter 's writings cover a much wider field, including many papers relating to Old 

 ^Yorld birds and to general subjects in ornithology, and many valuable contribu- 

 tions to mammalogy as well, American birds early became his chosen specialty, and 

 it has engaged his chief attention for over forty j'ears, and it is to Tie hoped will 

 continue to Co so for many years to come. 



Tlie bi1)liography of his writings, from their extent and authoritative character, 

 forms, as already said, a most welcome addition to the National Museum series of 

 bibliographies, which already embraces those of Baird, Girard, Lea, and Lawrence. 

 The utility of such compilations is beyond question; they are at once a monument 

 of respect to the author so honored and a convenience to all working naturalists 

 engaged in the same fields of research. 



Mr. Robert Riclgway, Curator of Biids in the Uuitecl States National 

 Museum, wn-ites as follows: 



The name of Sclater is so much a part of Neotropical ornithology that any 

 knowledge of the latter without equal familiarity with the former would be impos- 

 sible. Certainly no other name occurs so frequently nor ranks more highlj- in the 



