SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 273 



Bell was telling his experiences with the great naturalist and how 

 he almost had a serious break with him. Bell was traveling with 

 Audubon, and every day new species were found; one day Bell 

 said that he made up a bird with the head of a snipe, the body 

 of something else, the wings and legs of another. Audubon had 

 been away for a week, and when he returned Bell displayed the 

 bird, saying that he had mounted it at once as it was in bad con- 

 dition. Audubon was completely mystified and proportionately 

 delighted. He described the new bird and sent the account to 

 Europe, and it was weeks before Bell, then a young man, had the 

 temerity to confess. When he did Audubon fell into a rage, but 

 finally laughed, and acknowledged the cleverness of his assistant. 

 I noticed that Professor Baird was fully conversant with Bell's 

 work, and doubtless had views of his own regarding taxidermy 

 which were adopted in the National Museum. One could not 

 easily exaggerate the versatility of Professor Baird, and the di- 

 versity of his interests is well shown by even a casual glance at 

 his journal while studying medicine in New York. This was in 

 1848. One day we find him closeted with Audubon studying his 

 drawings, then dissecting a fox for him. The next day he is with 

 Le Conte, visits De Kay, and studies his report of the zoological 

 survey of New York. The following day we find him studying 

 drawing under Audubon, then he obtains bird skins from Peale 

 and sends him snails, fossils and coins in return. 



In the morning he is studying the fine collection of Siberian 

 fossils of T. A. Conrads and in the evening we find him taking 

 tea with Isaac Lea that he may go over this gentleman's large 

 collection of shells; straws which indicate the wide range of inter- 

 est taken by the young naturalist; and when it is remembered that 

 he was noted for the profundity of his investigations and the thor- 

 oughness of his work even to the minutest detail, the character 

 of his life-work and its extent can be realized. 



In 1871, General Grant appointed Professor Baird a commis- 

 sioner of United States Fish and Fisheries, an honorary position 

 which added greatly to his work. This move was epoch-making 

 and marked the recognition by the government of Professor 



