242 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [September 



It was always his hope to be able to work up his collections sometime, 

 but not until he had managed to acquire the literature necessary. 

 The botanical library at Ottawa was not sufficiently provided with 

 books in his line of work, and he was too conscientious to publish for 

 the mere sake of publishing. It was a matter of small importance to 

 Macoun to make new species, he rather disliked it; he took more 

 interest in contributing to the geographical distribution of plants, and 

 his collections in this respect are, to say the least, invaluable. He 

 took great interest in the difficult genus Carex, and he knew all the 

 Canadian species at almost any stage of development, indeed all the 

 varieties and forms. We owe to Macoun the rediscovery of Carex 

 Franklini and C petricosa. As a botanical correspondent Macoun was 

 indefatigable, and one must remember that as Chief of the Biological 

 Division he had to attend to a great amount of routine work. 



In private life Macoun took a deep interest in all questions bearing 

 upon the progress of humanity. He took a keen and active interest in 

 labor and sociological questions, and of late was specially interested 

 in the returned soldier problem. Macoun made and left many friends, 

 and not the fewest of those who will miss him most are among the great 

 class known as " labor." His death is a severe loss to natural science, 

 and wherever records are given of the progress of natural science in 

 Canada his name will be remembered, for he was one of its founders. 

 His simple mode of life well corresponded with his sincerity as a friend, 

 and his never failing sympathy for the poor. — Theo. Holm, Clinton, Md. 



