IO Elliot, /;/ Memoriam : Elliott Coues. T^ uk 



and the frame was weak, and he was filled with a restlessness that 

 was foreign to him. But when I bade him an adieu, which was 

 to be our last on earth, he was cheerful and spoke hopefully of 

 meeting soon again. As you all know, his condition became 

 more serious after he arrived at his home in Washington and an 

 expert examination at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore gave 

 but little hope for the preservation of his life. During these last 

 days I received a number of letters from him explaining frankly 

 his condition and how few were his chances for life, and just 

 before submitting to the operation came one virtually bidding me 

 farewell and announcing the close of our correspondence that had 

 extended over many years. On the sixth of December the oper- 

 ation was performed and for a short time there was a probability 

 that his life would be prolonged, but it was not to be, for he had 

 finished his work and he was to rest from his labors. Through- 

 out his illness he exhibited the natural bravery of spirit habitual 

 to him ; not a murmur or complaint of the excessive and lasting 

 pain, but gentle and courteously appreciative of every attention, 

 and at the last overcoming for an instant the weakness that 

 denoted the approach of that moment when his freed spirit should 

 depart and soar above all earthly things, he raised himself in his 

 bed, and with all the old time vigor of voice exclaimed, " Welcome ! 

 oh, welcome beloved death," and sinking backwards on the pillow 

 he was at rest. Nevermore shall you welcome to your midst this 

 courteous gentleman, who was the considerate friend, the able 

 counsellor, the chivalrous debater, the one most capable of 

 leadership, yet always willing to yield to another, the trained 

 scientist, the accomplished anatomist, the able naturalist, the con- 

 scientious historian. His was a life of intense activity and that 

 which his hand found to do he did with all his might ; and of 

 none can it be more appropriately said, " Nihil tetigit quod non 

 ornavit." 



Coues, as may be readily supposed, was the recipient of many 

 scientific honors, and he was an Honorary or Active member of 

 a very large number of societies, both in this country and in 

 Europe, and at the time of his election to our National Academy 

 he was, I believe, its youngest member. The list of scientific 

 societies with which he was connected numbers between fifty and 



