8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



me deviating from the beauties of nature or the truth of descrip- 

 tion." At this time Wilson was undoubtedly making diligent 

 search for all the extant literature on American birds, and the 

 above quotation clearly shows that he had found no writer who 

 had dealt more fully with the subject than William Bartram. 



It is doubtless true that Bartram's most important work was 

 in botanical lines, but ornithology, conchology, ichthyology and 

 entomology also claimed his close attention. In short he was a 

 fine example of the old-fashioned naturalist, a type now well- 

 nigh lost. The day of excessive specialization had not arrived, 

 the country was young and its wonders unstudied. The two 

 Bartrams were among the very first of our really important 

 naturalists. It is not strange that their work should have been 

 of a somewhat general character at a time when every steji re- 

 vealed wonders hitherto unknown. It is hard for us now to 

 realize the utterly crude state of scientific knoM'ledge in this 

 country a century ago. The naturalist of to-day cannot but 

 feel a little envious of the splendid field for original work which 

 lay open to these old pioneer students. 



Wilson was not the only one who received assistance and ad- 

 vice from William Bartram. A biographical sketch by an un- 

 known author says, ' ' Mr. Bartram was a source of reference to 

 many naturalists of his day, and there was scarcely an Ameri- 

 can or foreign writer who attempted the natural history of this 

 country but applied to him for information on relative treatises, 

 and in many instances his generous contributions were received 

 and diffused to the world by other writers without giving credit 

 to the proper author." 



William Bartram never married and the ties of family there- 

 fore did not interfere seriously with his work. His disposition 

 was affectionate and kindly, and his demeanor somewhat re- 

 served. He was short in stature; the expression of his counten- 

 ance was refined and intellectual. While his general health was 

 good his constitution was never vigorous or robust. His tem- 

 perate habits and outdoor life were doubtless the cause of his 

 reaching the advanced age of eight3'-five years. 



On the morning of July 22, 1823, he was writing the descrip- 

 tion of a plant in the little study used by his father and himself 



