PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 223 



From Dr. H. H. Behr, Entomologist San Francisco, Cal. 



San Francisco, Jan. 23d, 1882. 



Dear Friends: It was with feelings of the deepest regret that I read of 

 the demise of my friend, Josei)h Duncan Putnam. His death is a loss to sci- 

 ence. We mourn in his death the loss of an acute observer and original 

 investigator, that by a longer life would have bestowed immense benefits not 

 only to theoretical knowledge but also to the practical manipulations of the 

 agriculturist and horticulturist. It is only a shoi'ttime ago that I had to refer 

 to his publications on the Lecanium group. Now the eye of the talented 

 observer is closed ; the ready pen in the hand of the investigator is laid low ; 

 that soul so full of enthusiasm is gone to other realms, and the work half 

 done waits for a mind like his. 



I am sorry not to know the exact address of Mr. Putnam, 8r., or else I 

 would have expressed my condolence to hiin individually. 



Yours, trulv, 



H. H. BEHR, M. D. 



From Herman Strecker, Entomologist, Reading, Pa. 



Reading. Pa., January Utli, 1882. 

 Mr. and Mrs. Putnam and Family: 



Dear Friends — But a few days after the sad event I learned that your 

 son and brother, my friend Duncan, had left us; that the jioor, racked' 

 wearied frame was at rest, and that nevermore in this world would we see 

 his calm, thoughtful face. Manj' thoughts arose, and followed fast each 

 'other. PhantasmagoriaJike flitted before my mental vision the incidents of 

 his short visit here; the pleasure he took in examining all the wonderful 

 insects and books; his gentleness and humility; then the single dinner he 

 and I made off a steak and coffee, "not various, but good," as he said. Then 

 again later, his persistent, steady work in the scientific publications, and all 

 else pertaining to the society of which he was the real founder. Green will 

 his memory ever remain with those who had the good fortune to be brought 

 in intimate relations with him. * * * 



I know how utterly powerless is all language to express what we feel, or 

 to alleviate the agony. Time aloiae, in a measure, may deaden the acuteness 

 of the pain, but will never obliterate the remembrance of the goodness of 

 those who have been given to earth and heaven. 



Poor dear friend! I had hoped that he would live a number of years yet; 

 and had consumption been the sole disease he would have done so. But he 

 is gone ; and though neither sorrow nor tears will avail to bring him again 

 to us, still the thoughts of his puritj', his unselfishness, of his usefulness 

 and talents, will last with the many who knew him, till they have fulfilled 

 their mission and passed into eternity. 



Dear friends, with heart-felt sympathy, and tiusting that I may sometime 

 receive word from you, believe me, 



Most sincerely, yours, 



* * HERMAN STRECKER. 



