° 1915 J Palmer, In Memoriam: Theodore Nicholas Gill. 399 



the circumstances connected with the history of this rather remark- 

 able journal. Shortly after the death of Professor Cope in April, 

 1897, the ' American Naturalist ' which had been conducted by him 

 in conjunction with Professor Kingsley, changed hands and begin- 

 ning with the September number was placed under new editorial 

 supervision. For some time Gill had been desirous of acquiring 

 control of a scientific journal and it was afterwards a source of 

 regret to him that he had not secured ' The Naturalist ' when the 

 opportunity was presented. 



A year or two previous a well illustrated magazine of popular 

 ornithology called 'The Osprey' had been established by Walter 

 A. Johnson at Galesburg, Illinois. Within six months Doctor 

 Coues became associated with Johnson and for a while contributed 

 a column to each number. Coues at this time was devoting con- 

 siderable attention to ornithology in connection with the prepara- 

 tion of the fifth edition of his ' Key to North American Birds ' and 

 ' The Osprey ' evidently afforded a convenient medium for the publi- 

 cation of short notes. At the close of 1897 the publication office 

 of ' The Osprey ' was transferred to New York, and Johnson, having 

 engaged in other business, was anxious to be relieved of the editorial 

 work. The magazine was therefore offered for sale. Under these 

 circumstances it is not surprising that Gill, who was looking for a 

 journal, and Coues, who was already interested in 'The Osprey,' 

 should have become associated in the management of the magazine. 

 Gill acquired 'The Osprey' in October, 1898, beginning his" work 

 with the first number of Volume III. The office of publication 

 was transferred to Washington and under the joint editorship of 

 Coues and Gill the magazine began a new chapter in its eventful 

 career. It might have been expected that under such able manage- 

 ment 'The Osprey' would have prospered, but the combination 

 proved disastrous. Coues who contributed most of the editorials 

 and supervised the makeup began to treat the magazine as a toy 

 and evidently soon tired of the routine work. The editorials at 

 first in humorous vein soon grew sarcastic and became so sharp 

 that Gill, thoroughly disgusted, withdrew his name from the num- 

 bers for April and May, 1899. In the June number appeared the 

 statement that Coues had retired and Gill had assumed full control. 

 With the beginning of Volume IV in October the announcement 



