EDGAR ALEXAjSI^DER MEARNS RICHMOND. 659 



ress was impeded by the almost constant rains, the difficulties of trail 

 cutting, and the swarms of leeches, the latter constituting a notorious 

 drawback to travel in the forests of that region. The privations of 

 the journey are graphically set forth by Merrill, who states that the 

 expedition reached the summit on the afternoon of November 22, but 

 remained only long enough to take aneroid readings and deposit a 

 record of the trip. The return to the coast was not without trouble, 

 since nearly 14 days were required to reach Subaan. Carriers sent 

 down in advance for food and supplies had not returned ; the remain- 

 ing members were obliged to carry heavy loads ; a bridge made by the 

 party was washed away and had to be rebuilt; blinding rain con- 

 tinued for days without a pause ; two men were lost for several days 

 and later discovered in a half -famished state; and all of the party 

 were on short rations. These and other troubles were incidents of 

 the return trip. At length, however, the party reached Subaan, 

 December 5, after an absence of 40 days. The zoological results of 

 the trip were disappointing, since only by the exercise of great effort 

 could specimens be prepared or saved from later destruction b}^ mois- 

 ture. Furthermore, Doctor Mearns noted that the mountain birds 

 had descended to lower levels to escape the rains, and flocks of them 

 were observed passing up the mountain side when the party was on 

 its return to the coast. 



Late in 1907, Doctor Mearns returned from the Philippines and 

 was ordered to Fort Totten, New York, where he remained nearly a 

 year. While at this station he indulged in a garden and derived much 

 satisfaction from growing a variety of vegetables and registering in 

 his notebooks the results of his toil, indicating the treatment, yield 

 and value of each kind planted. It was at Fort Totten that he 

 became aware of the presence of the disease that finally brought his 

 career to an end. 



In 1908, President Roosevelt planned an extensive hunting and 

 scientific expedition to Africa, and invited the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion to participate, with the view of securing the best results in the 

 preservation of both large and small game. The proposition was 

 accepted, and Doctor Mearns was suggested for the position of natu- 

 ralist. He agreed to undertake the journey, and on January 1, 1909, 

 he was retired, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, but " assigned to 

 active duty with his consent," with orders to " report in person to the 

 President of the United States for duty." Concerning the objects of 

 the expedition President Roosevelt wrote him : 



While our collections will be mainly of mammals and birds, yet if we can 

 add reptiles and fresh-water fish, it will certainly be desirable. While not 

 making a special effort in the collection of insects and plants, it will yet be 

 desirable to do all that can conveniently be done in these directions. 



Doctor Walcott recommended yon to me as beinc: the best field naturalist and 

 collector in the United States; and as I already knew well the admirable work 



