1888.] 563 [Hyatt. 



that implies, and this result will, in the main, be owing to the un- 

 remunerated and devoted exertions of Spencer F. Baird." 



Professor Baird succeeded Professor Henry in 1878 as secretary 

 of the Smithsonian and for a few years he carried on successfully 

 this institution, the National Museum and the Fish Commission, 

 any one of which would have been sufficient to fill his time and his 

 mind. All his biographers unite in representing this increased tax 

 upon his energies to have been the immediate cause of the sickness 

 which ultimately resulted in his death. 



Professor Baird was always more or less in correspondence with 

 the officers of this Society, and at his solicitation, during Mr. Scud- 

 der's time as secretary, the Society joined the Smithsonian in send- 

 ing out several expeditions for the collection of birds. He exercised 

 during Dr. Brewer's life a direct influence upon the administration 

 of the Society, so far as the extensive collections of birds and eggs 

 were concerned, and these collections owe many specimens to his 

 liberality. During his visits to this city, he usually spent part of a 

 day with us and walked through the Museum. He invariably showed 

 on these occasions that he had kept in mind the former condition of 

 the collections, and almost always had some suggestions or friendly 

 criticisms to make, which exhibited an active interest in what was 

 being done. 



Professor Baird was also much interested in the Annisquam ma- 

 rine laboratory, and every year during the last four or five years 

 of his life urged me, by personal interviews and by letters, to use 

 my influence to have the laboratory transferred to Wood's Holl and 

 brought into more intimate association with the Fish Commission. 

 A friend of his had bought land near the Fish Commission build- 

 ings, and held it for the benefit of any educational institutions 

 which might be induced to build laboratories there for the use of 

 students. This scheme deserved to succeed, but the times and the 

 impecunious condition of our educational institutions made it im- 

 practicable. These institutions either did not have students of zo- 

 ology or were too poor to respond to the generous offers made by 

 the Commissioner of Fisheries and his friends ; and the Annisquam 

 Laboratory, though it would have gained greatly by association 

 with the Fish Commission, was also hampered by pecuniary disa- 

 bilities. It is greatly to be regretted, that the plan could not have 

 been held open indefinitely until opportunities for seaside work 

 would have been required by the Colleges. This event is not far 



