XVIII BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER. 



abreast of the progress of zoological science. That these opportunities have not 

 been neglected is shown by the extraordinary ari'ay of titles, more than 1,200 in 

 nnmber, contained in his bibliography. The vast majority of these papers relate 

 to the birds of tropical America, in which field the name of Sclater, like that of 

 our own lamented Lawrence, will always occupy an exalted position. 



Sclater is a good type of the industrious, sj-stematic naturalist. His oificial 

 position and personal energy brought him a wealth of new material. This he 

 described in an endless series of papers on new species and new genera. Then, as 

 additional specimens and additional species came in, he promptly i:)ublished more 

 comprehensive treatises in the form of synopses of genera or larger assemblage-.. 

 And later, when still ampler material cast new light on the subject, he in numer- 

 ous instances revised the same groups over again, correcting early errors, adding 

 new species, and bringing the history of the groups down to date. These synop- 

 ses and monographic revisions are the most important and useful of Sclater's con- 

 tributions to science. Their number i3 amazing. Among the groups treated r.ra 

 the Orioles, Tanagers, Callistes, Pheasants, Cuckoos, Honey Creepers, Jacamars, 

 Puff Birds, American Ant Birds {FormicarildcE) , American Rails, and many others. 

 In addition to all these, his Nomenclator Avium N eotropicalium and Argentine 

 Ornithology have come to be indispensable to the student of South American 

 birds. And finally, as a fitting climax to this remarkable series, ho has lived to 

 erect his own monument in the admirable volumes he has contributed to the 

 British Museum's Catalogue of Birds. 



But Sclater's contributions to zoological science are not limited to birds. In 

 the field of mammals he has published many important papers, illustrated by 

 colored plates of high merit. Among the more useful of these are articles on the 

 Deer, Rhinoceroses, and African Monkeys. He is now publishing, under joint 

 authorship with Mr. Oldfield Thomas, a superb illustrated work on the antelopes 

 and their allies, '"The Book of Antelopes," the second volume of which is already 

 well advanced. That the period of his activities may be continued far into the 

 future is the earnest hope of his American friends. 



Prof. Joel Asaph Allen, of the American Museum, of Natural Ilis- 

 torj', New York City, writes : 



It is particularly fitting that the series of bibliographies published by the United 

 States National Museum should include the writings of Philip Lutley Sclater, who 

 has been for many years the most eminent authority and one of the most pro- 

 lific writers on the ornithology of Central and South America. While Mr. Scla- 

 ter's writings cover a much wider field, including many papers relating to Old 

 "World birds and to general subjects in ornithology, and many va,luable contribu- 

 tions to mammalogy as well, American birds early became his chosen specialty, and 

 it has engaged his chief attention for over forty years, and it is to be hoped will 

 continue to do so for many years to come. 



The bibliography of his writings, from their extent and aiithoritative character, 

 forms, as already said, a most welcome addition to the National Museum series of 

 bibliographies, which already embraces those of Baird, Girard, Lea, and Lawrence. 

 The utility of siich compilations is beyond question; they are at once a monument 

 of respect to the author so honored and a convenience to all working naturalists 

 engaged in the same fields of research. 



Mr. Robert Ridgway, Curator of Birds in the United States National 

 Museum, writes as follows : 



The name of Sclater is so much a part of Neotropical ornithology that any 

 knowledge of the latter without eqiial familiarity with the former would be impos- 

 sible. Certainly no other name occurs so frequently nor ranks more highly in the 



