XVI BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



with Egypt, the country that contains the earliest records of the human family, and 

 receding geographically from the same central point of reference." 



Then, starting with "4713 b.c," and " 4491 B.C., beginning of the first Great Year 

 in the Egyptian reckoning," he begins the list, which, under the running heading of 

 " Chronological Arrangement of accompanying Animals and Plants," first treats of 

 the vegetables and animals mentioned in the book of Genesis, and of the " Com- 

 mencement of Bedouin or Nomadic Life in the Desert; " passes to the "Colonization 

 of Egypt," and to critical notices (philological and natural-historical) of its plants* 

 and animals, as well their earliest mention as their latest known migrations ; reaches 

 the beginning of the Christian era at about the 470th page ; and so proceeds, till 

 our wonder at the patience and the erudition of the writer passes all bounds. We 

 are ready to agree with a biographer, who declares that our associate was " a living 

 encyclopaedia of knowledge ; " that there never was a naturalist " who had made 

 more extended and minute original explorations ;" and we fully agree that "no one 

 ever had less a passion or a gift for display ; " " that he was engaged during a long 

 life in the profoundest studies, asking neither fame nor money, nor any other reward, 

 but simply the privilege of gaining knowledge and of storing it up in convenient 

 forms for the service of others ;" that "the love of knowledge was the one passion 

 of his life,"' and that " he asked no richer satisfaction than to search for it as for 

 hidden treasure." He was singularly retiring and reticent, very dry in ordinary in- 

 tercourse, but never cynical ; delicate and keen in perception and judgment ; just, 

 upright, and exemplary in every relation ; and to those who knew him well commu- 

 nicative, sympathetic, a"nd even genial. In the voyage of circumnavigation he was 

 the soul of industry, and a hardy explorer. The published narrative of the com- 

 mander shows that he took a part in every fatiguing excursion or perilous ascent. 

 Perhaps the most singular peril (recorded in the narrative) was that in which this 

 light-framed man once found himself on the Peruvian Andes, when he was swooped 

 upon by a condor, evidently minded to carry off the naturalist who was contemplating 

 the magnificent ornithological specimen. 



Dr. Pickering married in the year 1851, and leaves a widow, but no children to 

 inherit this honored name. 



