A CALIFORNIA COLEOPTERIST. 



Among the many zealous entomologists of California I know of no one who 

 takes a warmer interest in assisting beginners than Rensselaer J. Smith, M. D., 

 of Milpitas, Santa Clara County, California. He has helped me in my work so 

 bountifully, by loaning me books and records and in a thousand other ways, that 

 no words can express my gratitude. Many of my correspondents have been 

 the recipients of his generous kindness. 



Dr. Smith was born near Albany, New York, March 15, 1858, and is 

 descended from the early German and English settlers of York State, including 

 the Van Rensselaers. Reared as a farmer boy, he attended grammar school 

 and boy's academy, took a three years' course at the State Normal College at 

 Chicago, and graduated with honor from the medical department of the Uni- 

 versity of New York City, receiving his degree in March, 1 884. He practiced 

 medicine and surgery for nearly twenty years in Albany and during the last ten 

 years in California. He is recognized as one of the leading men in his pro- 

 fession, has a large and lucrative practice, has a wife and 1 5 -year-old son, a 

 beautiful home and is a genial, lovable gentleman. He is a prominent member 

 of both County and State Medical Societies, a distinguished member of the lead- 

 ing fraternal organizations, and is withal a botanist, lepidopterist and coleoptenst 

 of national and international fame. For many years botany was his favorite 

 study and he exchanged with many of the leading universities of Europe and 

 America. He collected with Professor Heller in the Yosemite, Rev. Dr. Rob- 

 ertson on the desert and in Southern California, and was a friend and co-worker 

 with Professors Jepson and Hall. He finally donated his entire herbarium of 



