MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 9 



character, which brought with it a cordial, cheering influence 

 appreciated by all his co-workers. 



From his youth he was a favorite pupil of Professor Agassiz, 

 and that relation, notwithstanding their difference of age, ripened 

 into friendship with advancing years. He entered with zeal into 

 all the plans of Professor Agassiz for the establisment of a Museum 

 at Cambridge, and the creation of a school of Natural History at 

 Harvard University. He was one of the original trustees of the 

 Museum, and served as its Treasurer in addition to his work as 

 Assistant in Zoology. 



After the Charter of the Museum was transferred to the Cor- 

 poration of Harvard University, he became a member of the 

 Museum Faculty, and acted as its Secretary. In all these official 

 positions his devotion to the founder of the Museum, his business 

 capacity, his common sense and sound judgment, were of great 

 value in raising the institution to its present position. 



After the death of Professor Agassiz, Mr. Lyman continued his 

 services to the Museum, until he became incapacitated for work 

 by the disease which finally ended his life. His letter of resigna- 

 tion shows what it cost him to give up his scientific pursuits, and 

 sever his connection with the institution to which he was so 

 deeply attached. It signified also his full recognition of the ordeal 

 he was called upon to face, and which he bore through years of 

 suffering with invincible fortitude. 



Mr. Lyman's scientific work was devoted to fisheries and to the 

 study of Brittle Starfishes. As Fish Commissioner of Massachu- 

 setts he gave the State valuable service, and published a number 

 of annual reports from 1866 to 1881. 



His zoological work began with short papers on ornithological 

 subjects ; he subsequently became interested in corals, and finally 

 devoted himself specially to Ophiurans. The first Illustrated 

 Catalogue of the Museum was from his pen, and this important 

 monograph on Ophiurans was followed by numerous papers on 

 the same subject, treating of new species of the group. He wrote 

 the Report on the Ophiurans of the "Hassler" Expedition, of the 

 "Challenger," and of the " Blake" Reports, which include by far 

 the larger number of species of Ophiurans dredged by those deep- 

 sea exploring expeditions. 



ALEXANDER AGASSIZ. 



Cambridge, October 1, 1897. 



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