SPENCER F. BAIRD. 729 



breathed liis last ou the IDtli of August, 1887; another example (far 

 more fre(iiient in the higlier than in the lower fields of occupation) of 

 sacrifice to over-work. 



From even this hurried and imperfect sketch of Professor Baird's 

 diversified administrative work it is at once apparent that he i)os- 

 sessed, in a pre-eminent degree, two great capacities; — the faculty for 

 successful organization, and the faculty for continuous labor. As 

 a biologist he had made a study of the entire range of organic nature — 

 vegetable and animal ; and with the accuracy of the specialist, he com- 

 bined the larger and fuller perception of the general zoologist as to the 

 functional and genetic inter-relations of animated being. The tenor of 

 his mind was rather synthetic than analytic. While he ever displayed 

 a marvellous memory for particulars, and a comprehensive grasp of 

 details, these were apprehended more as the constituents of a general 

 end or purpose, than as the residuals of a disjunctive conception. 

 Clear-sighted and determined, he prevised and compassed the result 

 in the means. Simple and unostentatious, he received with ready 

 affability a visitor, even when most preoccupied. What young 

 naturalist ever applied to him for the resolution of a diflticulty or un- 

 certainty without receiving cordial attention and satisfactory enlight- 

 enment f 



Great as were his undoubted services in the original discovery of 

 biologic truths, it may well be doubted whether his indirect influence 

 in the advancement of science, was not still greater, by the assistance 

 and encouragement given to others and by his numerous official occa- 

 sions of directing the efforts of the aspiring into channels of novel 

 exploration, whenever the opportunities of land or naval expeditions 

 presented themselves. 



Now that the first shock of bereavement at missing one who has 

 occupied a prominent place in the public eye, as well as in our private 

 regard, has somewhat subsided, we but the more clearly realize that in 

 the lamented death of Spencer F. Baird the scientific world has lost an 

 accomplished and illustrious naturalist, the institutions over which he 

 presided an energetic and judicious administrator, and we, assembled 

 here, an exalted associate, a faithful counsellor, an ever open-hearted 

 friend. 



