iSSS.] Spejiccr Fitllcrton Baird. g 



one not living in the present can form an accnratc idea of the 

 personal influence of a leader upon liis associates and upon the 

 progress of thought in his special department, nor can such an 

 influence as this well be set down in words. This influence is 

 apparently due not only to extraordinary skill in organization, 

 to great power of application and concentration of thought con- 

 stantly applied, and to a philosophical and comprehensive mind, 

 but to an entire and self-sacrificing devotion to the interests of 

 his own work and that of others." 



But it is not only through his published works and personal 

 influLMice with his associates and pupils, that Professor Baird was 

 powerful in the development and advancement of ornithology in 

 America. His position as head of the Smithsonian Institution and 

 the National Museum gave him peculiar opportunities for putting 

 into practical shape his plans for a thorough exploration of little 

 known portions of the continent. "To his influence with the 

 Government authorities is due the excellent field-work done in 

 connection with nearly all the Government Surveys and the 

 Signal Service Bureau, from the first inception of the various 

 Pacific Railroad Surveys to the present time." * If the explora- 

 tion of a particular field suggested itself to him, he rarely failed 

 to find, sooner or later, means to accomplish the object in view ; 

 no opportunity for making use of, or securing the cooperation 

 of, otlier departments of the Government in maintaining explora- 

 tions which he had himself instigated or organized was ever 

 neglected, and for such opportunities he was constantlv alert. 

 His success in thus promoting the cause of science \vas, how- 

 ever, by no means wholly due to the importance of his official 

 positions, his personal zeal and influence often accomplishing 

 what might not otherwise have been successful. 



The sterling qualities of mind and heart which were so con- 

 spicuous in Professor Baird's character were as well known and 

 as highly appreciated abroad as at home. As an illustration of 

 this fact, I quote the following obituary notice in ' Natine,' for 

 August 25, by Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, Senior Assistant, Depart- 

 ment of Zoology, in the British Museum, well known as an orni- 

 thologist of eminence : 



"By Englishmen who knew Professor Baird personally, the loss 

 must !)e especially felt, but there are many who never had met 



* Editorial, in ' The Auk,' Oct. 1887, p. 358. 



