Vol. XXXVl 



1918 



Richmond, In Memoriam: Edgar A. Mearns. 17 



in the Yellowstone National Park, and in addition he collected 

 extensively in the Philippines, Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island, 

 Minnesota, and southern New York. All his collections are 

 deposited in the U. S. National Museum, and probably no one 

 person has contributed a larger number of plants to that institu- 

 tion." Hollister, in 1913, referring to Philippine mammals, said 

 that of 1454 specimens in the National Museum, " probably by far 

 the largest collection from the archipelago in any museum," Dr. 

 Mearns had given 1012. More impressive figures may be cited 

 in the case of birds, when it is known that more than one tenth 

 of the total number of specimens of birds in the U. S. National 

 Museum were either collected or contributed by him. 



The published writings of Dr. Mearns number about 125 titles, 

 chiefly on biological subjects, although medicine, archaeology, and 

 biography are also represented. Fifty or more new species of 

 animals and plants have been named in his honor, as well as three 

 genera, the latter constituting a rather unusual distinction. 

 Mearnsia, a tree of the myrtle family, is a native of the slopes of 

 Mount Halcon, and the same name has been conferred on a rare 

 swift from the island of Mindanao, while Mearnsella commemo- 

 rates a genus of fishes from the last named locality. 



Dr. Mearns was a Patron of the American Museum of Natural 

 History; Associate in Zoology of the National Museum; Corre- 

 spondent of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; 

 Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union; Member of the 

 National Geographic Society, of the Biological Society of Wash- 

 ington, of the Linnaean Society of New York, and of various other 

 societies. 



For one who had engaged in many difficult journeys, Dr. Mearns 

 was of rather frail build, not more than five feet four inches in 

 height, and probably never weighed much in excess of 140 lbs., 

 but he was blessed with a spirit of determination that enabled him 

 to accomplish nearly every task he undertook. Withal he was 

 modest and unassuming in demeanor and seldom referred to his 

 own exploits, but was a good auditor and always interested in the 

 experiences of his friends. He avoided arguments and never 

 indulged in criticism of others; was fair and impartial in his 

 appraisement of men. He was always willing to seek advice and 



