SPENCEPt V. BAIKI). 709 



111 ('.oniinentinu iii)on tlie value of Professor Band's contributions to 

 scieutifi(5 literature, Professor (lootle remarks that" no one not living;' in 

 the present can Ibnu an accurate idea of the personal iuHuence of aieader 

 upon his associates and upon the progress of thought in his special de- 

 partment, nor can such an intiueuce as this well be set down in words. 

 This intluence is apparently due not only to extraordinary skill in organ- 

 ization, to great power of ai)plication and concentration of thought con- 

 stantly applied, and to a philosophical and comprehensive mind, but to 

 an entire and self-sacrificing devotion to the interests of his own work 

 and that of others." 



But it is not only through his published works and personal influence 

 with his associates and pupils that Professor Baird was powerful in 

 the developuient and advancement of ornithology in America. His 

 position as head of the ymithsoniau Institution and the National Mu- 

 seum gave him peculiar opportunities for putting into practical shape 

 his plans for a thorough exploration of little known portions of the 

 continent. "To his influence with the Government authorities is due 

 theexcellent field-work done in connection with nearly all theCJovernment 

 surveys ami the Signal Service Bureau, from the first inception of the va- 

 rious Pacific Railroad surveys to the present time."* If the exploration of 

 a particular field suggested itself to him, he rarely failed to find, sooner 

 or later, means to accomplish the object in view; no oi)portunity for 

 making use of, or securing the co-operation of, other dei)artments of tiie 

 Government in maintaining exi)lorations which he had himself insti- 

 gated or organized was ever neglected, and for such opportunities he 

 was constantly alert. His success in thus promoting the cause of science 

 was, however, by no nutans wholly due to the importance of his official 

 positions, his personal zeal and influence often accomplishing what 

 might not otherwise have been successful. 



The sterling qualities of mind and heart which were so conspicuous 

 in Professor Baird's character wer<', as well known and as higlily ai)pre- 

 ciated abroad as at home. As an illustration of this fact, I (juote the 



lytical or synoptical tables of tlio larger work, improved and somewhat enlarged by 

 the iutrod action of brief diagnoses of tlie ucsts and eggs of the different species, 

 together with the Eiiglisli names. This book, of which there exists only a single 

 copj% and that not i)erfoct, was completed early in 1874. Its title is " Outlines of 

 American Ornithology, by S. F. I5aird and R. Kidgway. Part I, Land Birds." For 

 some reason the work was never [)nblishcd, and the electrotype plates were destroyed. 

 This work, in which the present writ(!r had some shaiti, wasthecimbryo which, after 

 twelve years' iiunibation, (inally developed into the more com])rehensive "Maniral 

 of North American Hii'ds," in the jirejtaration of which, bov.'ever. Professor Haird 

 took no active part, though it is scarcely necessary to say that he was much in- 

 terested in its progress, even alnrost to the close of his life, which ended shortly after 

 tlie work had been printed, but before it could be published. It has been a matter 

 of deep riigret to the author that I^iofessor Baird could not have had a share in the 

 preparation of the book, and still more that he could not have lived to enjoy the 

 satisfaction of seeing it jiublished. 



* Editorial in The Auk, October, 1887, p. :{58. 



