REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 45 



localities. He also became interested in the investigations of the floras 

 of the later epochs, and in fossil fishes, crustaceans, and myiiapods. 

 His purpose was not merely to accumulate a great collection of fossils. 

 He chose for his task in the service to science to contribute to our 

 knowledge of the plant and animal life of the past by discovering, 

 systematically gathering, and bringing the fossil remains to the hand 

 of the paleontologist. This material, often difficult to obtain and 

 rare, he submitted to the most distinguished specialists in the various 

 departments, and not infrequently he further assisted in the illustra- 

 tion and publication of the results of their investigations. Accord- 

 ingly, we find most of the specimens in his great collections labeled on 

 the authority of Lesquereux, Dawson; Scudder, Cope, Hall, or Packard. 



In 1891 he determined to see his collections safely transferred to a 

 repository where they would be permanently cared for and preserved, 

 while at the same time made available for consultation or study. He 

 first tendered his magnificent collection of paleozoic plants, embracing 

 about 100,000 specimens, with nearly 600 types, to the National 

 Museum. Subsequently he added his collections of plants from the 

 younger epochs, insects (including a great number of types and unde- 

 scribed species), myriapods, crustaceans, and fishes. The magnitude 

 and importance of these collections have already been referred to in 

 the Reports of the National Museum." 



In the departments of paleozoic plants, fossil insects, and fishes the 

 Lacoe collection was not only far more extensive than the previous 

 collections in the Museum, but it also rendered the two sections first 

 named hardly inferior to any in the world. The number and biolog- 

 ical range of the types in the Lacoe collection will be shown in the 

 paleontological catalogue now in course of preparation. 



The history of Lacoe's gifts to the United States National Museum 

 has already been given by the assistant secretary and the curators, but 

 reference may well be made again to the simple and patriotic terms of 

 the gift — i. e., that it be kept entire, with such additions as might be 

 made to it by exchange or subsequent contributions by the donor; that 

 it be known as the Lacoe collection, and that it be accessible to scien- 

 tists and students without distinction, under such proper rules and 

 restrictions as may be deemed necessary for the preservation of the 

 specimens from loss or injury. These informal yet wise provisions, 

 attending the most important gift that the Museum has yet received, 

 afford, as Prof essor Ward has happily said/' "•just ground for national 

 scientific pride, while the liberal public spirit with which it was given 

 is worthy of imitation by all patrons of science." They are typical of 

 Lacoe's scientific spirit, generosity, and devotion to paleontology. 



"Report U. S. National Museum, L892, \<\>. L86-188; L886, pp. 71-74. 

 ''Idem, p. 188. 



