The Humming Bird. 31 



Lately, for want of time, I did not see him as much as 

 before, and I regret it, because I consider that I have lost a 

 great deal. 



In the middle of last year, he lost his beloved daughter, 

 Alice Bates, the eldest of his children, and he felt it 

 immensely. In fact, at the time of his death he had not 

 got over it. 



Here are some extracts of the last letter which he wrote 

 to me shortly before his death. 



January 7th, 1892. 

 Mon cher Boucard, 



I gather from your letter that you do not know that our 

 much loved daughter Alice is dead. I felt sure that her 

 husband's family had sent the funeral cards to you and 

 dear friend Salle, for I gave your addresses to them; but it 

 appears this was not the case. She died in May last, 

 leaving an infant girl, who is now being brought up by her 

 sister Sarah. We have not got over our grief, and I have 

 been more or less ill since. 



Mrs. Bates and I went away after Christmas for eleven 

 days and only returned last evening. I need not repeat 

 what I have said in a former letter, that we shall be glad to 

 see you whenever you find it convenient to come. But 

 you will find it a dull household. 



Mrs. Bates desires me to send you her kindest regards. 



Many thanks for sending in the Humming Bird so 

 regularly. You must work very hard. 



Yours sincerely, 



H. W. BATES. 



As I said before, during all his life he resented more or 

 less the consequences of the attacks of yellow and inter- 

 mittent fevers, from which he suffered during his expedition 

 on the Amazons. His liver, being out of order, occasioned 

 attacks of dyspepsia, which his robust constitution enabled 

 him for many years to throw off, but lately symptoms of 

 some organic gastric mischief appeared ; upon this influenza 

 supervened, and his last illness was of brief duration. He 

 leaves a widow, three sons (two of whom are in New 

 Zealand), and a married daughter to deplore his loss. 



The death of this eminent naturalist, at the early age of 

 68, is a great loss for science, to whom he was one of the 

 most devoted adepts, but his memory will never fade. He 

 has done much for science, and it is to be hoped that one 

 or more of his sons will follow the brilliant career so well 

 fulfilled by their father. 



A. BOUCARD. 



