40 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIV. 



Canada. His resultant report displays, in the 

 amplest degree, a faculty of observation given to 

 but a very limited number of investigators, and a 

 fearlessness in presenting the results of findings 

 which is, and always will be, the highest and most 

 valued characteristic of a genuine scientific investi- 

 gator and a true public servant. 



When not engaged in the special work briefly re- 

 ferred to, Mr. Macoun was, during his last 20 

 years, largely occupied with botanical work, except 

 in 1 909, when he spent considerable time assisting his 

 father in the preparation of the "Catalogue of 

 Canadian Birds." Remaining in Ottawa during the 

 summer of 1897, for the first time since being con- 

 nected with the Geological Survey, Mr. Macoun 

 made a special study of the violets of the Ottawa 

 region, discovering species new to science, and in 

 1913 he again collected in the Ottawa region, sup- 

 plementing the botanical material which had been 

 brought together by his father and himself with a 

 view of publishing a "Flora of the Ottawa District." 

 In 1910, Mr. Macoun studied the fauna and flora 

 on the west coast of Hudson bay, and, in 1912, he 

 was engaged in botanical work on Vancouver 

 island, particularly in Strathcona Park where sever- 

 al species new to Canada as well as to science were 

 discovered. From 1914, he worked in British 

 Columbia and in Jasper Park, Alberta . The 

 islands of the Gulf of Georgia, as well as the 

 Comox district of Vancouver island, were thorough- 

 ly investigated from a botanical standpoint. During 

 the last two years, Mr. Macoun made a most com- 

 plete botanical survey of Jasper Park, Alta., ex- 

 tending his working field the last year westward 

 along the Grand Trunk Pacific railway. 



Mr. Macoun was appointed Assistant Naturalist in 

 the Geological Survey in 1898 and Botanist in 1917. 

 In 1918, he was appointed Chief of the Biological 

 Division. 



This brief outline of Mr. Macoun's field work 

 and career as a naturalist may give some idea, al- 

 though a rather incomplete and vague one, of the 

 magnitude of the scope of work undertaken by him. 



His unique record will, by force of its excellence, 

 guarantee him an ever-honoured place as a Canadian 

 naturalist of the highest rank. As a botanist, par- 

 ticularly, he contributed enormously to the knowl- 



edge and understanding of the Canadian flora. 

 His extensive travels made him familiar with the 

 flora from eastern Canada to the extreme islands off 

 the Pacific coast, and from the hot and arid parts 

 of southern British Columbia to the tundra of the 

 Arctic. No one in Canada, with the exception of 

 his illustrious father, ever possessed such a thorough 

 knowledge of the Canadian flora as did James 

 Macoun, and, as a result, he was justly recognized 

 and esteemed as the greatest authority in matters 

 bclanical, next to his venerable father, that Canada 

 ever produced. His name is indelibly written on 

 the pages of the History of Canadian Botany. 



Mr. Macoun's fame as a botanist and as a 

 naturalist in general may be contributed to three 

 main characteristics, namely, a brilliancy of mind 

 enabling him to grasp quickly and accurately the 

 central idea of arguments and the relative value of 

 evidence presented, an in-born love of investigations 

 for the sake of the investigation itself, and a fund 

 of energy which permitted no physical obstacles to 

 be raised in the way of his investigational efforts. 



Extremely modest and unassuming, Mr. Macoun 

 was the type of scientist who derives complete satis- 

 faction from the conscientious persecution of his 

 work without seeking public reward for the ser- 

 vice done. 



Mr. Macoun was a true scientist whose untimely 

 death is sincerely deplored by his many scientific 

 and other friends. The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' 

 Club is feeling his departure deeply and recently 

 expressed its sentiments in the following resolution: 



"The members of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' 

 Club desire to place on record their deep sorrow in 

 the death of their fellow member and friend, Mr. 

 James M. Macoun, C.M.G. Mr. Macoun's repu- 

 tation as a careful, conscientious naturalist was by 

 no means confined to Canada. In his death the 

 Geological Survey has lost a valuable officer and 

 members of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 

 a true friend, ever ready to assist, not only in the 

 furtherance of the botany of Canada, but in other 

 branches of natural history as well The council 

 desires to express its sincerest sympathy to his widow 

 and daughter." 



M. O. Malte. 



