No. 450.] 



CHARLES EMERSON BEECH ER. 



411 



tology to take charge of the collections of invertebrate fossils in 

 the Peabody Museum. He took the degree of Ph. D. at Yale 

 in 1889, his thesis being a most interesting monograph on the 

 Brachiospongidae, of which rare fossil sponges the ^'alc Museum 

 has a superb series. 



Professor Marsh recognized Beecher's ability and his acKance- 

 ment was rapid. To state his official career at New Haven in 

 brief: He was appointed Instructor in Palaeontology in 1892, 

 Assistant Professor of Palaeontology in 1892, Professor of His- 

 torical Geology 1897, and member of the Governing lioard of 

 the Sheffield Scientific School in the same year. ( )n the <lcath 

 of Professor Marsh he was in 1899 appointed Cairator of the 

 geological collections of the Peabody Museum. In 1902 his 

 title was changed to that of University Professor of Palaeon- 

 tology. 



In 1898 Beecher was elected corresponding member of the 

 Boston Society of Natural History, in 1899 member of the 

 National Academy of Sciences, and foreign correspondent of the 

 Geological Society of London. In 1900 he was elected Presi- 

 dent of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, filling 

 that office for two years. While at New Haven he made many 

 trips to western or nearer localities, collecting vertebrate and 

 invertebrate fossils for the museum, and made a trip to Europe 

 with the late Dr. George Baur, visiting museums. 



Indian Ladder in the Helderberg Mountains was always a 

 favorite and fertile spot for him, dating back to his Albany days. 

 It is one of the most beautiful and picturesque regions in the 

 Helderbergs. He collected there slabs of limestone contaming 

 fossils which were silicified in the most perlect condition for 

 development by etching with acid. iMom sucli material he 

 etched numerous large or minute specimens of surpassing beauty 

 and scientific interest. Besides adult fronds of Bi yo/.ou. Hrachi 

 opoda, Crustacea, and other fossils in most perfect pie^enation, 

 he obtained minute embryos and small species in huge num )ers 

 in literally wonderful condition of perfection. Young 1 1 o^ites 

 I mm. in length, young Acidaspis .93 mm. in length, un( / ige> 

 I.I 5 mm. long, both of the latter so perfect ^^^^^l^^/^^^^"^^^^^^^^^^^ 

 them from both the dorsal and ventral view, young eu 



