37 



for illustration indicated, the necessity for subsequent identification of 

 many of bis figures from tbe figures tbemselves would bave been obvia- 

 ted. Some figures, particularly motbs, have never been identified and 

 are not named upon the plates. It is, of course, recalled that he figured 

 many loaned specimens, particularly upon his later plates ; these also 

 should have been indicated in every case, although any doubtful iden- 

 tification, as they were received from specialists, is hardly a probability. 



I am at a loss to account for his lack of system and want of care in 

 so important a matter, when he showed such nicety, and such delicacy 

 of manipulation in the preparation of his bird collections, unless it 

 came from his belief, frequently expressed, that figures were as good as 

 origiuals, and far more easily cared for. 



When it was proposed to establish an insect cabinet in connection 

 with the museum of the Department of Agriculture, examples of the 

 latest and most improved cases in use at Cambridge for this purpose 

 were obtained and brought to Mr. Glover's notice. It was a peculiarity 

 of his nature that he took slowly to "new tangled notions;" and partly 

 considering the expense, he decided that shallow pine drawers with 

 loose glass covers were good enough. He was prejudiced against cork 

 bottoms, though the use of cork was strongly urged, and finally com- 

 promised on paper felt. As the sequel proved, the splitting and shrink- 

 ing of the cases and drawers in the dry steam heat of the Department 

 building altered his views materially, but only when it was too late to 

 remedy the matter. 



In the letter previously quoted Mr. Glover states that his work will 

 be finished in three years. The time had expired a year i)revious to 

 his again entering the service of the Government, but I do not think 

 even at that time that the work was any nearer completion, as regards 

 his own ideas upon the subject than when he had been working four 

 months. It is evident from the very manner in which he worked that 

 he had ])laced no definite limit to it. He conceived the scheme, and 

 seemingly without having measured the magnitude of the undertaking, 

 he went industriously to work to carry it out. As the end proved, 

 '' completion" in this case meant when there were no more insects to 

 figure, for with no fixed limit it could have been carried on indefinitely. 



Mr. Glover became Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture 

 April 1, 1863. It was then located in the basement of the Patent Office 

 building. In time two rooms were secured for the purpose of a mu- 

 seum, and in the corner of one of these the Entomologist finally estab- 

 lished his office. This was in the summer of 1804. A letter to Baron 

 Osten-Sacken, written in October, 1864, in reply to one from this spe- 

 cialist, shows that his work was now temporarily interrupted. He 

 says : 



" • * I have been so much engaged for the last year in the Department of Agri- 

 culture, with office work and laying the foundation for an agricultural museum, that 



