20 Biology in America 



and plants which they collected. Oftentimes collector and 

 classifier were the same, as with Baird, Coues and many 

 othei-s. 



On tho banks of the Sehnylkill River in Philadelphia stands 

 an okl stone luansion, over whieh the pleasant ivy clambers, 

 and in the garden round about, now a city park, are still 

 growing many of the plants set out there nearly two centuries 

 ago by John Bartram, who was the first American botanist 

 of note, and whose garden, laid out in 1728, was the first 

 botanical garden in America. His old rock wine press is 

 there still, from which the host provided refreshment for 

 Washington, Franklin, Hancock, Rittenhouse, Morris and 

 many others whose names are written large on the pages of 

 our nation's story; and to his home also came many notables 

 from abroad, for his reputation for learning and hospitality 

 was well known. Bartram acted at one time as American 

 botanist to George III, and corresponded with Linmeus, who 

 considered him "the greatest natural botanist in the world,'' 

 as well as with other leading European naturalists of his time, 

 with whom he exchanged many plants for the books which 

 could only be obtained in Europe. Provided with independ- 

 ent means, he made extensive journeys through eastern 

 America, from Lake Ontario to Florida, in search of plants, 

 accounts of which were published by him, as well as several 

 minor papers on natural history. 



Here was born and died the son, William, a botanist and 

 ornithologist of note. Like his father, he was an extensive 

 traveler, and published an account of his travels, as well as 

 a list of American birds, w^hich was the first extensive work 

 on American ornithology. 



Over the counter of a little store in Louisville, Kentucky, 

 there occurred in INIareh, 1810, a chance meeting between two 

 men who have stamped their names in indelible letters on the 

 pages of American Science. They were Alexander Wilson, 

 the Scotch weaver, and John James Audubon, the French 

 artist. In his "Ornithological Biography," Audubon has 

 given us an interesting account of tiiis meeting and of his 

 impressions of his co-worker in the field of ornithology. "One 

 fair morning," writes Audubon, "I was suri)rised by the 

 sudden entrance into our conntiug-room at Louisville of Mr. 

 Alexander Wilson, tlie celebrated author of the American 

 Ornithology, of whose existence I had never until that moment 

 been apprise<l. This happened in ]\Iarch, 1810. How well 

 do I remember him as lie tlien walked up to me! His long, 

 rather hooked nose, the keenness of his eyes, and his promi- 

 nent cheek-bones, stamped his countenance with a peculiar 

 character. His dress, too, was of a kind not usually seen in 



