1914 J Elliot, In Memoriam: Philip Lutley Sclater. 3 



In Philadelphia he met at the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 Baird, Cassin, Leidy, and other well known scientists, and passed 

 considerable time studying the splendid collection of birds possessed 

 by that Institution. 



Returning to England he remained for several years in London 

 practicing law and studying natural history, and was a constant 

 attendant at the meetings of the Zoological Society. 



Nearly twice the number of years allotted to a generation of man- 

 kind has passed away, since Sclater and I first met. It was in 

 London, where I had come from Paris, after a considerable stay 

 upon the continent studying in the various museums, and preparing 

 the Monograph of the Pittas. On going to the house to which I 

 was directed, quite an unpretentious one as I remember it, I as- 

 cended two flights of stairs after entering, and knocked at the door 

 of a room which was opened by Sclater himself, and on giving my 

 name was greeted with a cordial "Come in, come in, there are a 

 few of us here talking about birds, come and join us." I found 

 there a small company of young men, the names of most of whom 

 have since become known wherever ornithology holds its sway, and 

 there were laid the foundations of many friendships which death 

 has alone terminated. I brought an account of Mitchell's death 

 in Paris, Sclater's predecessor in the office of Secretary of the Zoo- 

 logical Society, rumors of which had reached London, but no de- 

 tails. Mitchell had resigned, and Sclater had been nominated for 

 the office by Owen and Yarrell, and elected in the previous April. 

 He had only just entered upon his duties, and he found the publi- 

 cations of the Society much behind in their regular issue, the state 

 of the Gardens not what it should be, and many reforms needed, 

 which during the next three years were established, and put into 

 effect, and the "Proceedings" and "Transactions" brought up to 

 date. At that time Sclater was tall and slender, with an attractive 

 smile and cordial manner. He remained the most active power 

 and influential officer of the Society for fifty years, and under his 

 leadership it was raised to the first rank in dignity and usefulness, 

 among the kindred institutions of the world, as well as in the 

 importance and beauty of its publications. 



Although when Sclater commenced to make his collection of bird 

 skins at Oxford, he intended not to restrict himself to any one 



