THEC9HD9R 



Number 2 



Volvime XX MarcK-April, 1918 



IN MEMORIAM : LYMAN BELDING 



By WALTER K. FISHER 



WITH PORTRAIT 



LYMAN BELDING, the last of the Pioneer ornithologists of California, and 

 an Honorary Member of the Cooper Ornithological Club, died at Stock- 

 ton, California, November 22, 1917, at the age of eighty-eight years and 

 five months. For a considerable period his strength had been gradually fail- 

 ing, and his death was due to the infirmities of his advanced age. He was the 

 oldest American ornithologist. 



Although for more than twenty years Mr. Belding took a leading part in 

 the ornithological work of the state, it is much to be regretted that he was per- 

 sonally known to so few of the younger ornithologists who have now taken his 

 place. This was partly due to his active work having ended before the present 

 generation's began, and partly to his having lived in retirement away from cen- 

 ters of ornithological activity. Although he seemed somewhat diffident he was 

 nevertheless very genial and was not averse to making new friends. To those 

 who had won his confidence he was greatly attached. His home in Stockton 

 was the rendezvous of the Old Friends Club, a small coterie of prominent pio- 

 neer men who used to gather for a sociable game of whist, of which Mr. Bel- 

 ding was very fond. So far as I am aware he attended but one meeting of the 

 Cooper Club, although he was always greatly interested in its welfare. In the 

 ''downy" stage of The Condor he helped its growth by encouragement and by 

 contributions of manuscript and money. 



Mr. Belding was a naturalist of the old school. He was a born sportsman 

 and his love of nature revealed itself in early childhood. It is not clear whether 

 his more serious interest in natural history was the outcome of his devotion to 



