iSSS.] S/<e>iccr Fidlcrion Baird. \ \ 



how great the provocation to reply, or how strong a case his side 

 presented ; and in every instance known to the writer it has 

 transpired that the ground taken or the statements made by Pro- 

 fessor Baird have stood the test of time. "One of his striking 

 characteristics was that he would never quarrel and never have 

 anything to do with the quarrels of others. He was always for 

 peace."* *y^ 



As a public officer, no man was more conscientiously devoted 

 to his duty or faithful in its performance ; and he administered 

 the complicated affairs of three distinct and important establish- 

 ments with an ability which commanded admiration, although 

 it was plainly to be seen that the responsibilities were too great 

 for any single person to bear. His capacity for work was enor- 

 mous, and he was constantly occupied. He enjoyed work, and 

 it was not his industry which hurt him ; but the harassing 

 cares of his public trusts and the weight of their responsibility 

 were too much for even his powerful physique to endure, and he 

 gave way under the strain. 



No man was more easily approached than Professor Baird, or 

 greeted a new acquaintance more cordially. His reception of 

 young persons, especially those with an inclination for natural 

 history, was particularly charming, at once relieving them from 

 embarrassment and captivating them by his unassuming manners, 

 his genialty, and frankness. 



Trusting that he does not introduce too prominently his 

 own personality into this memoir, the writer offers the follow- 

 ing brief outline of his personal acquaintance with Professor 

 Baird, as being of probable interest to members of the Union, 

 and as giving an insight into the character of his lamented friend. 

 Until near the middle of the year 1S64, the writer, then a lad 

 in his fourteenth year, was unacquainted with the name of any 

 living naturalist, or with any books on natural history except 

 such general or superficial compilations as Goldsmith's 'Ani- 

 mated Nature,' a history of the United States (author forgotten) 

 which included a chapter or two on the natural history, and 

 Goodrich's 'Animal Kingdom' — works which, although supply- 

 ing much valuable information to the general reader, were of 

 course wholly inadequate to the wants of a special student. 

 A lady resident in the town learned of his difficulties, and sug- 



* Professor Otis T. Mason, in 'Washington Evening Slai' of August 20, 



