1937 ] 
William Morton Wheeler 
63 
of a single instructor and several laboratory assistants he 
gave all the zoological instruction in the University. This 
included general biology, comparative anatomy, embryology 
and histology and even special work in entomology to a group 
of several more advanced students. He was exceptionally 
well fitted to give all these courses, and in addition his tire- 
less energy was still able to overflow into other channels. He 
now turned his attention to ants and almost immediately 
began to publish papers on the habits of these insects. Thus 
with studies on Texan ants began the long series of investi- 
gations that later molded his biological career. Each sum- 
mer he went north, either to Woods Hole or to his summer 
home at Colebrook, Connecticut, rapidly extending his in- 
terest in myrmecology. 
Wheeler remained in Texas for only four years, but during 
that time the zoological laboratory of the University quickly 
rose to a position where it commanded the respect and ad- 
miration of the biological fraternity throughout the World. 
He left the University of Texas during the summer of 
1903 to become Curator of Invertebrate Zoology in the 
American Museum of Natural History. I know that he 
regretted greatly having to give up his university teaching, 
but he knew that he would have more time to devote to his 
work on ants, and furthermore a greater opportunity to 
travel and to engage in field work than was possible for him 
as a University professor. Also he was supplied in his new 
position with the necessary clerical and scientific assistance 
that had previously been lacking. He enjoyed greatly also 
the association with several members of the staff, especially 
his friend Dr. H. C. Bumpus, at that time director of the 
American Museum. He remained in New York for five 
years, during which time he accomplished an enormous 
amount of scientific work, attested by the long series of 
extensive and important papers published during these 
years. The manuscript of his book on ants was nearly com- 
pleted during this period, although not finally published 
until 1910. 
In 1908 he deserted the museum to again become an active 
teacher, going to Harvard University as Professor of Eco- 
nomic Entomology. His laboratories were located in the 
Bussey Institution, organized as a graduate school for re- 
