382 Ichthyological Papers. [May, 



account of which his parents were doubtful of his future success 

 in life. He entered St. Mary's .College, Maryland, at an early 

 age, and graduated from it with high honors in his eighteenth 

 year. The unfavorable outlook that science then presented for a 

 livelihood, induced him to look elsewhere for means of support. 

 Civil engineering was the profession that he chose, and the one 

 that he practiced until his death. Having completed his studies 

 in this branch, he was engaged on a survey of the Baltimore and 

 Ohio, and the Portsmouth and Roanoke railroads from 1829 to 

 1835, a station on the former line still bears his name. In the 

 early part of 1835, he removed to New Orleans, where he was 

 employed on the Nashville railroad under Major Ranney. He 

 was appointed Engineer of Public Works of the State in 1837, 

 which office he held until 1842, when he was elected surveyor of 

 the second municipality. This last office he retained with the ex- 

 ception of a few months till the time of his death, which occurred 

 on December 29, 1850, at the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos river, 

 Mexico. Although in feeble health, Mr. Dunbar had accepted a 

 position with a corps of engineers, to survey the route for the Te- 

 hauntepec railroad, where his health gave way entirely, and he 

 died on shipboard while en route to his home in New Orleans. 



At the early age of nine, he began collecting and arranging in 

 systematic order entomological specimens. In the course of a few- 

 years his collections on this subject amounted to several thousand 

 specimens, which he afterwards presented to Dr. Luzenburg, of 

 New Orleans. The collection was afterward destroyed for want 

 of proper care. He was likewise familiar with the Flora of the 

 South, and contributed something on the " Flora of the Dismal 

 Swamp." Shortly after leaving college, he began a careful study 

 of the classification, structure and habits of the fishes of the South- 

 ern States, which he continued with great zeal up to the time of 

 his death. All the time that could be spared from his professional 

 duties was given to the pursuit of his favorite study, and he had 

 prepared nearly all the plates and texts for an extensive volume 

 which he was intending soon to publish. The volume was to con- 

 tain descriptions of over one hundred fishes, and was to be pro- 

 fusely illustrated by drawings from life made by himself. His 

 last observations on some of the fishes of the Mexican coast, made 

 a short time previous to his decease, are still in existence and were 

 probably the last that he intended to make before publishing his 

 work. In connection with his sad and untimely death we are 



