DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 6 



of hummingbirds, an art which obtained for him much credit 

 among ornithologists both in this country and abroad. As a 

 taxidermist he had few amateur equals, as many of his prepared 

 specimens show. He published a little book on ' Wild Flowers ' 

 and another entitled 'Our Own Birds', which became quite 

 popular and went through several editions." 



His correspondence indicated that he had scarcely become of 

 age when his health began to break down, with a gradually 

 weakening effect, and during the last few months of his life he 

 was confined to his bed. Even though bedridden, he was still 

 deeply engrossed with his favorite work. He had published 

 his book on "Trees, Plants and Flowers", about 1857, but his 

 bird book was still unpublished when he died. John Collins, 

 his brother-in-law and close friend, read over to him the con- 

 cluding paragraph of " Our Own Birds" on March ninth, 1861, 

 about two weeks before his death, and shortly afterward com- 

 pleted on wood two bird plates from Audubon, the last two for 

 the book. John Collins also aided him in the preparation of 

 his work on the hummingbirds hereafter referred to. 



The following minute made about three months before Wil- 

 liam's death is interesting in this connection: " At a meeting of 

 the Executive Committee of the Association of Friends for the 

 Diffusion of Religious and useful knowledge, held 1 Mo. 1, 1861. 

 A communication was now received from our friend William L. 

 Baily, offering us for publication a manuscript prepared by him- 

 self on the birds of America, accompanied with a subscription 

 of one hundred dollars toward the cost of stereotype plates and 

 engravings. 



' ' This very liberal offer was accepted, and the Secretary was 

 directed to send a copy of this minute to the author, with the 

 thanks of the Committee. 



* ' Taken from the Minutes. 



Joseph Potts, 

 Secretary. ' ' 



The book was published in 1863, two years after his death, 

 by the Association above mentioned, and being written in a 

 popular style had a wide circulation. In those days it could be 

 found upon the shelves of most ornithologists and lovers of 



