A CUBAN FISHERMAN, 179 
appears. Unlike some other systematic writers, 
he exhibits no preference for his own names or 
subdivisions, but is as ready, if the evidence seems 
to require it, to smother one of his own species or 
genera as those of another. His work shows little 
sign of falling off in quality. The clearness of his 
judgment and the accuracy of his memory seem 
unimpaired. It is difficult in conversing with him 
to realize that he was born in the last century, and 
that in his earlier studies he was a contemporary 
of Lamarck, Cuvier, and of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. 
Many men are older at fifty than Poey at eighty-five. 
Old age and its accompanying infirmities are 
now narrowing the circle of Professor’s Poey’s 
life. His walks seldom extend themselves beyond 
the confines of his study and the little courtyard, 
shaded by tropical trees, into which his door opens. 
Some two hours each day he still devotes to the 
study of fishes. He eagerly reads every new work 
on his favorite science, and is as anxious as ever 
to obtain the freshest ideas on classification, or the 
latest points in synonymy. As an evidence of his 
freedom of mind and lack of prejudice I may cite 
his acceptance of the various scientific theories 
and conclusions embraced in the name “ Darwin- 
ism,” and his general acceptance of the philosophy 
of evolution as developed by Herbert Spencer, an 
author for whom he has expressed to me a special 
admiration. This is the more remarkable when 
we remember that almost his whole life has been 
passed in Cuba, —a condition where all tendencies 
of society and of Church are away from such stud- 
ies and speculations. 
