13 Spencer Fiillertou Bui id. [January 



hini in the flesh, to whom the news of his decease must come as 

 that of a dear friend. As one of the latter class we venture to 

 express our sympathy with our scientific brethren in America on 

 the decease of one of their most eminent and respected colleagues. 

 As chief of the Smithsonian Institution, Professor Baird possessed 

 a power of conferring benefits on the world of science exercised 

 by few directors of public museums, and the manner in which 

 he utilized these powers has resulted not only in the wonderful 

 success of the United States National Museum under his direction, 

 but in the enrichment of many other museums which were in 

 friendly intercourse with the Smithsonian Institution. We know 

 by experience that the British Museum is indebted beyond meas- 

 ure to Professor Baird, and we need only refer to the recent 

 volumes of the 'Catalogue of Birds' to show how much our Na- 

 tional Museum owes to the sister Museum in America for hearty 

 co-operation. We had only to write and express our wants, and 

 immediately every effort was made, by Professor Baird's instruc- 

 tions, to supply all the desiderata in our ornithological collection, 

 and this without the slightest demand for an equivalent exchange, 

 though, of course, in the case of the British Museum, every effort 

 was made to reciprocate the good feeling shown by the great 

 American Museum. There must be many private collectors in 

 this country who will indorse our acknowledgments to Professor 

 Baird for the unrivalled liberality which he has alwa}s shown 

 in the advancement of the studies of every ornithologist who in- 

 voked his aid We may add that, during an experience of 



twenty years, we have never heard from any ornithologist, Eu- 

 ropean or American, a single unkind word concerning Professor 

 Baird, either in his public or private capacity. This is something 

 to say in this age of jealousies and backbitings." 



Indeed, it may with truth be said that so widespread, so nearly 

 universal, has been his influence, that few there are, if an3 , 

 among his contemporaries who have not had occasion to record 

 their sense of obligation for his aid, his counsel, or his noble ex- 

 ample. We all delight to acknowledge him our great teacher, 

 and in doing so do honor to ourselves. 



A very marked trait of Professor Baird's character was his 

 aversion to personal controversy, which was so decided that under 

 no circumstances could he be drawn into one. It was his inva- 

 riable rule to answer his critics by a dignified silence, no matter 



