SEPTEMBER 6, 1918] 
he has left behind him a valuable series of 
notes from which the future historians will 
find little that is lacking concerning the early 
history of the museum. At times interesting 
developments presented themselves, and as 
typical of those his last important publication 
may be cited. It was “ The Columbian Insti- 
tute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences. 
A Washington Society of 1816-1838, which es- 
tablished a Museum and Botanic Garden under 
Government Patronage” (pp. 1-85), which was 
published as No. 101 of the Bulletin series of 
the National Museum in 1917. 
Subsequent to the death of Secretary Lang- 
ley, in February, 1906, and until the election 
of his successor a year later, Mr. Rathbun 
served as acting secretary, and frequently dur- 
ing the absence of Secretary Walcott the guid- 
ance of the affairs of the parent institution 
was entrusted to Mr. Rathbun as acting secre- 
tary. 
His bibliography numbers nearly one hun- 
dred titles, and, in addition to those already 
mentioned, he was the author of various scien- 
tific papers contributed to the serial publica- 
tions of the Fish Commission and the National 
Museum, as well as a few biographies of friends 
and colleagues, such as Charles F. Hartt and 
Jerome H. Kidder; several popular articles 
contributed to current literature; gnd a series 
of official reports of which, notably those of 
the National Museum, are conspicuous eyvi- 
dences of his patient industry. 
Intense devotion to duty was a striking trait 
of Mr. Rathbun’s character, and so, absorbed 
in the details of his various activities, all of 
which had to do with the institution to which 
he gave his life, he had but little time for 
other interests. 
Nevertheless, his scientifie work gained de- 
served recognition from Indiana University, 
which in 1883 conferred upon him the degree 
of M.S., and in 1894 Bowdoin gave him her 
doctorate in science. 
His colleagues found pleasure in dedicating 
in his honor recently discovered forms of life, 
and a genus of fishes, Rathbunella (“in recog- 
nition of his many ‘services to science”), as 
well as a genus of starfish, Rathbunaster (“in 
SCIENCE 
235 
appreciation of his pioneer work on Pacific 
starfishes”) and many new species of plants, 
batrachians, fishes and mollusks preserve his 
name in the literature of science. 
Naturally he was a member of many scien- 
tific societies. At home he was active in the 
Biological Society of Washington, and he was 
an early member of the Philosophical Society, 
becoming its president in 1902; also he was a 
member of the Washington Academy of Sci- 
ences, and in 1905 he was chosen by his asso- 
ciates to be president of the Cosmos Club, an 
honor that he greatly appreciated. 
Among the national societies he was a fellow 
(since 1892) of the American Association for 
the Advancement of Science, corresponding 
member of the Boston Society of Natural His- 
tory, member of the American Society of Nat- 
uralists, councilor of the American Associa- 
tion of Museums, and a member of the Ameri- 
ean Fisheries Society. 
His foreign connections included member- 
ship in the Fisheries Society of Finland, the 
Russian Imperial Society for the Acclimati- 
zation of Animals and Plants, and correspond- 
ing membership since 1917 in the Zoological 
Society of London. 
Mr. Rathbun was also a permanent councilor 
of the International Fisheries Congress, a 
member of the American Committee for the 
Boston meeting of the International Zoolog- 
ical Congress, and in recent years every gath- 
ering of scientists, such as the International 
Congress of Applied Chemistry, the Interna- 
tional Congress of Americanists, and the Sec- 
ond Pan American Scientific Congress held in 
Washington, placed his name on their honor 
lists of distinguished members. 
At a memorial meeting of the various mem- 
bers of the staff of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion and its branches, held in the National 
Museum on the day of Mr. Rathbun’s death 
and presided over by Mr. Henry White, a 
regent of the institution, record was made of 
“their profound sorrow at the loss of a sin- 
cere friend, an executive officer of marked 
ability, and one whose administration has had 
a wide influence upon the scientifie institutions 
of the nation.” Marcus BenJaMin 
