BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



living at what was in those days an inconven- 

 ient distance from the libraries and museums 

 of the city, he declined it, and his friend, Dr. 

 James E. DeKay, who undertook the work, 

 had the use of the materials which Mr. Cooper 

 had collected. 



As an example of his style of scientific work, 

 the articles on the bats exhibit great accuracy 

 and thoroughness, only seven species being 

 admitted by him as well determined, out of 

 twenty-four previously named from this coun- 

 try, adding two as new species, viz., Plecotus 

 Townsendi and Molossus fuliginosus (included 

 under Nyctinomus nasutus, by Allen). 



With the few specimens then obtainable, 

 many of them in poor condition, it was im- 

 possible to identify more from the imperfect 

 descriptions of the older authors ; but he 

 thought seven of the others might prove good 

 species. Later students, however, have only 

 identified two of them, finding little of Mr. 

 Cooper's work requiring alteration. 



Finally, various cares and the want of ro- 

 bust health prevented the continuation of 

 scientific studies, and Mr. Cooper found it 



