1914 ] Notes and News. 141 



his inspiration from other fields as well, renders his loss to ornithology 

 none the less.— W. S. 



Dr. Ora Willis Knight, a member of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, died on November 11, 1913, from double pneumonia. 



He was born in Bangor, Maine, July 15, 1874, son of George Willis and 

 Nellie Ada (Blood) Knight. He attended the public schools of Bangor 

 and in California, and graduated with honors at the University of Maine 

 (then Maine State College), receiving the degree of B. S. in 1895. He con- 

 tinued to pursue post-graduate studies in chemistry at the University and 

 received the degree of M. Sc. in 1897. While in college he was Sergeant 

 and Second Lieutenant of Co. A., Coburn Cadets and on graduation, was 

 recommended to the Adjutant General for excellence in military scholar- 

 ship. 



He was assistant in Natural History at the University during his post- 

 graduate work and then became assistant chemist at the Maine Agri- 

 cultural Experment Station. In 1903 he was appointed state assayer 

 and at the same time entered into private business in the same field. He 

 was chemist for the Lackawanna Foundaries and several other concerns 

 and as a consulting chemist and microscopist had but few equals. He 

 did much analytical work for prominent physicians, and came into promi- 

 nence before the public as an expert in important court cases. He was 

 sure of his ground in such cases and was ever zealous for right and justice. 

 In recognition of his attainments Dr. Knight received the degree of Doctor 

 of Science from his university in 1909, and was honored with the highest 

 emblem of the Phi Kappa Phi Society of which he was a member. 



Dr. Knight was married, very happily, August 11, 1899, to Miss Minnie 

 Gertrude McDonald of Bangor, who has ever been an able assistant in his 

 undertakings. In 1911 he removed from Bangor to Portland where he 

 built a residence. 



From early boyhood Dr. Knight was interested in birds and ornithology 

 was always his pet hobby. He was elected a member of the Maine Orni- 

 thological Society in 1895, and was an active participant in the meetings, 

 holding various offices and contributing many valuable papers to the 

 'Joiu-nal' of the society. He was also an expert and painstaking photog- 

 rapher and his illustrated lectures on bird life were always enjoyable. 

 In 1897 the University of Maine pubhshed as Bulletin No. 3, his 'A List 

 of the Birds of Maine' and in 1908 he published his portly volume 'The 

 Birds of Maine.' These books constitute our authoritative works on the 

 birds of the state. 



Dr. Knight was elected an Associate Member of the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union in 1893 and a member in 1907 and was a frequent contributor 

 to 'The Auk.' 



His scientific activities were not however confined to ornithology. He 

 possessed a thorough knowledge of botany and had formed a nearly com- 

 plete herbarium of the plants of Maine, which he has bequeathed to the 



