202 DAA^NPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



entomology. During this time he had become especially interested 

 in the Arachnidm^ and made large (collections of specimens, and of 

 books on that subject. 



While at Salt Lake City, he spent some time at the museum there, 

 and arranged for it a collection of the insects of Utah, collected by 

 himself, identified and labeled ready for exhibition. 



On the 22d of June, 1872, he discovered in Colorado, his first spe- 

 cimen of the Galeodes^ a group intermediate between the spiders 

 and the scorpions, which finally became his special study, and to 

 which he would have devoted many of the coming years. He wrote 

 the next day to Prof. Hagen of Cambridge, and received from him 

 a very elaborate letter in reply, recognizing the importance of the 

 discovery, and of the study of that family — Soljmgidai — of which 

 very little was yet known, and of which specimens were very rare, 

 and he was evidently impressed with Duncan's ability and aptness 

 for such a study. 



In the next season he obtained one more specimen, and since that 

 time, chiefly by exchanges, he has made a considerable collection 

 from Mexico and elsewhere. He was, up to the time of his death, 

 the only person in this country who had made much progress in the 

 study of the family of Snlpw/idrt^. 



From the date of the organization of our Academy, though but a 

 school-boy of twelve years, Duncan manifested much interest in its 

 progress, and on the 22d of June, 18(59, he was elected to member- 

 ship, and at once became an active and useful member. 



On the 28th of April, 1871, in his sixteenth year, he became re- 

 cording secretary, in which office he was remarkably efficient, and 

 retained the position until compelled to resign it on account of ill 

 health, in January, 1875. 



On November 23d, 1876, he was elected corresponding secretary, 

 which important office he filled until he became our President in 

 January, 1881. From that date to the day of his death, nearly one 

 year, he was President and acting corresponding secretary. In this 

 ])()sition, from the very extensive correspondence he established 

 with scientific men and societies of many countries, and the judi- 

 cious manner in which he conducted it, he not only himself 

 became widely and favorably known both in America and abroad, 

 but contributed very largely to the success and progress of the 

 Academy, and especially to that of its library. 



On the 26th of November, 1875, immediately after his return from 

 California, he presented at the Academy meeting, a set of resol»tious 



