Vol. XVI I IT Elliot, In Memoriam: Elliott Coues. C 



1901 J J 



Zapodidae, Saccomyidae, Haplodontia and Geomyidae in the ' North 

 American Rodentia,' also issued in 1877, bear ample witness to 

 this fact. It is impossible, however, in a comparatively brief 

 address to enumerate the titles of his works and to this audience 

 they would seem like twice told tales, for with the more important 

 you are thoroughly familiar, and the minor ones are being con- 

 stantly met with and referred to by you in the pursuit of your 

 investigations. 



We know what he has done in Natural Sciences, and although 

 he rests from his labors, and the eloquent tongue is silent and the 

 still more eloquent pen lies motionless never more to perpetuate 

 the virile thoughts that struggled for expression in the active 

 mind, yet his works remain and speak with no uncertain tones for 

 him. I would, however, pass from the consideration of him as an 

 author and facile writer, and present him to you as the man, as he 

 really was, for although many persons were acquainted with Coues 

 few I believe really knew him. It is now nearly forty years ago, 

 when on a visit to Professor Baird in Washington, one evening, in 

 company with my old friend Dr. Gill, I first met Elliott Coues. 

 He was then in his teens, a student of medicine, frank, simple, 

 honest and confiding, with a boy's generous impulses, and the 

 glorious enthusiasm of the ornithologist manifest in speech and 

 action. The friendship then formed continued without a break 

 or a hasty word ever having been exchanged with tongue or pen 

 throughout all the intervening years. And yet we thought very 

 differently on many subjects ; but such was our confidence in each 

 other's honest intention and unreserved frankness that we could, 

 and did many times, argue on different sides, both orally and in 

 writing, with an energetic earnestness that would have been 

 highly dangerous to our continued friendship if we had not under- 

 stood each other so well. And first among his most eminent 

 characteristics was his love of truth, and he was constantly striv- 

 ing with all the force of his energetic nature to search it out and 

 take its teaching to himself wherever he might find it, careless 

 where it might lead him or what preconceived views or opinions 

 it might overthrow or destroy. He believed with Carlyle that 

 " there is no reliance for this world or any other but just the 

 truth, there is no hope for the world but just so far as men find 



