ABSENCE OF HERRICK AND GRAY 



a strange-looking plant, grabbed a clump of it, and carried 

 it to camp. This was the Darlingtonia Californica. 



Two men whose scientific and friendly companionship 

 Dana greatly desired were absent from the fleet. One of 

 these was Asa Gray, even then giving promise of the 

 high attainments and renown which distinguished him 

 throughout a long life. Dana knew him well, admired 

 and loved him. Gray had accepted the position of 

 botanist, but almost at the last moment relinquished the 

 post, annoyed by all the delays that had occurred, and 

 induced by attractive proposals to remain at home. 

 Nevertheless his name is always associated with the voy- 

 age, for to him the collections of plants were committed 

 at its close for examination and report. The other friend 

 was Edward C. Herrick of New Haven, already repeatedly 

 mentioned, a man of great acuteness and versatility, well 

 acquainted with the progress of many departments of 

 science, and especially interested in entomology and in 

 such celestial phenomena as the aurora, the zodiacal 

 light, and meteoric showers. Dr. W. T. Harris, the 

 author of Insects Injurious to Vegetation, once wrote ask- 

 ing him to give up his astronomy and " attend to some- 

 thing useful," the pursuit of entomology. Dana and 

 Pickering united their efforts to secure an appointment 

 for Herrick, and it came at last, a few days before the 

 time appointed for sailing, a welcome honor, but an ap- 

 pointment that involved a lamentable disappointment. 

 Cruel fate, which hung over Herrick's early life, and 

 kept from distinction a man of rare abilities, prevented 

 his acceptance. To arrange his affairs for so long an 

 absence there was not time enough in the ten days that 

 intervened between the receipt of his invitation and the 

 day fixed for the departure of the squadron. So he 

 declined, and thus he lost the opportunity of his life. 



The appointment of Lieutenant Wilkes was dated 

 March 20, 1838. Three months later, the following 



63 



