12 Richmond, In Memoriam: Edgar A. M earns. [j^x. 



to the Philippines, and here he made the inevitable collection that 

 attended his every pause, however brief, in a new locality. In the 

 few hours spent at Guam he obtained twenty-three birds and a 

 variety of other material. To him every specimen had a potential 

 scientific value, and if worth picking up at all was worth labelling 

 with its full history. This applied to all material, whether in his 

 own chosen field or not, his theory being that if a specimen proved 

 to be of no interest it could be easily discarded at any time. 



During the two years of his second period of service in the 

 Philippines he was enabled to reach many interesting and obscurely 

 known islands, having the good fortune to accompany General 

 Wood on tours of inspection to the northernmost and southernmost 

 points of the Archipelago, but space forbids notice of other than 

 his two chief exploits. In May, 1906, he was placed in command 

 of a " Biological and Geographical Reconnoissance of the Malindang 

 Mountain Group," in western Mindanao, which was organized to 

 explore and map the region and make collections of its natural 

 products. This expedition, originally consisting of 21 whites and 

 28 native carriers, left the old fort at Misamis, on May 9th, and 

 experienced many difficulties, ascending one spur of the mountain 

 after another, only to discover that an impassable gorge several 

 thousand feet deep separated it from the main peak. By May 25th, 

 the party had become reduced to half its original number, through 

 the departure of various members to the coast. The remainder 

 pushed on, and at 11.30 o'clock on the morning of June 4th reached 

 the top of Grand Malindang, the second highest point in the 

 Philippines, and previously unvisited by civilized man. It was 

 foggy and cold, but Dr. Mearns remained on the summit three 

 days and nights to secure a good series of the animal life of that 

 altitude. The return to the coast was comparatively uneventful 

 and occupied only a few days. A good map of the region was pre- 

 pared, and a number of new animals and plants were discovered, 

 including Malindangia, a new genus of birds. 



One achievement among Mearns' Philippine experiences stands 

 out more prominently than any other, namely, his ascent of Mount 

 Halcon, which was undertaken at the worst season of the year. 

 This notable expedition, headed by Dr. Mearns, was organized 

 "under the direction and with the support of Maj. Gen. Leonard 



