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JVofes mid Nexvs. [April 



in 1866 was elected president of the Neosho Valley Railroad. Still later 

 he was also land attorney for the Santa Fe Railroad. 



In the prosecution of his ornithological work Colonel Goss has in recent 

 years traveled widely, visiting Labrador, the Northwest Coast, Southern 

 Florida, California, Texas, Mexico, various parts of Central America, and 

 numerous points in the Rocky Mountain region. He formed a remarka- 

 bly large and fine collectioTi of mounted birds, mounting TTiost of them 

 himself in the field from fresh specimens. This collection he presented 

 a few years ago to the State of Kansas, where, as the 'Goss Ornithological 

 Collection' it forms one of the most complete and valuable collections of 

 local ornithology in the country. His principal ornithological writings 

 relate to the birds of his own State, and besides numerous minor papers 

 comprise a 'Catalogue of the Biids of Kansas.' published in 1S83, reissued 

 in a much enlarged form, with numerous additions, in 1SS6, and his 

 'History of the Birds of Kansas,' issued but a few days before his deaths 

 and noticed at length in the present number of 'The Auk.' Little did we 

 think when penning that review, scarcely a week since, tliat we should be 

 so soon called upon to chronicle his sad death. 



The estimation in which Colonel Goss was held in his own State is 

 indicated by the following transcript from the Topeka 'State Journal' of 

 March 10: "Colonel Goss was one of the most widely known men in 

 Kansas. He came to Kansas in territorial days and was one of the pion- 

 eers who made Kansas a great State .... To those who knew him best, 

 he will be remembered especially for his rare social qualities, his kind- 

 heartedness, his higmindedness. and his warm friendship. In every sense 

 he was a man whom to know was to admire, respect and love. His char- 

 acter was without blemish and his integrity unimpeachable. He had 

 not an enemy in the world, and few men ever had more friends." On 

 the receipt of the news of his death at Topeka, both branches of the 

 Legislature then in session, and the Executive Council of State at a 

 special meeting, adopted resolutions setting forth his invaluable services 

 and the irreparable loss his death had brought to the State. He was 

 buried with distinguished honor from the Senate Chamber. 



The members of the A. O. U. who have had the pleasure of a personal 

 acquamtance with Colonel Goss will find an expression of their own 

 regard for him in these testimonials of sincere and well merited tribute 

 to his character. Since the organization of the A. O. U. Colonel Goss 

 has never failed to attend its meetings, often at the cost of much personal 

 inconvenience, aside from the journey of nearly three thousand miles such 

 attendance entailed. At the last meeting when the place of the next Con' 

 gress was under discussion, in which Colonel Goss took part, he said, 

 in expressing his preference for some other place than the one chosen, 

 "wherever it is held. Colonel Goss will be there if be is alive." This 

 was a characteristic expression of the deep interest Colonel Goss has always 

 manifested in every possible way in the welfare of the Union. At the 

 last Congress he was elected a member of the Council, to fill the vacancy 

 caused by the election of Mr. George N Lawrence to Honorary member- 



