1934 ] 
John Merton Aldrich 
137 
servedly should be acquired by the National Museum to 
complement the collection and index. 
Aldrich always generously shared his library, records, 
specimens, and information. Most present day dipterists 
owe more to him than their printed words of thanks can im- 
ply. Beyond the tremendous wealth of specialized informa- 
tion he held regarding the Diptera he was versatile in many 
lines. He was devotedly interested in the All Souls’ Unita- 
rian Church in Washington, of which he was a trustee, and 
conducted classes in religious history and education. He 
was keenly interested in politics and daily followed the do- 
ings of Congress. He was one of the organizers of the 
Thomas Say Foundation and served as editor from 1916 to 
1931. He was secretary-treasurer of the Entomological So- 
city of America from 1915 to 1920, and President in 1921. 
In 1926 he was President of the Washington Entomological 
Society. 
Aldrich had a remarkable gift of locating rare species on 
his collecting trips. His more extensive journeys included 
Utah and California, 1911; Alaska, 1921; Guatemala, 1926, 
and Sweden, 1930. He was meticulously careful in mount- 
ing specimens, in arranging the Museum collection, and in 
entering the records in his great index. His diary has daily 
entries for some fifty years, not merely a line or two, but a 
careful description of the happenings that befall an eminent 
man. 
The accompanying bibliography, transcribed from the 
card index by his secretary, Mrs. Willis, gives his publica- 
tions in chronological order. Outstanding in the list is the 
catalogue. This monumental work stimulated so many 
publications on the Diptera that its very importance in the 
progress of American entomology led to its rapid obsoles- 
cence. Would that its author could have been spared a few 
more years to give to all the codified information that he 
alone possessed. We regret his passing, but are thankful 
that such a man has lived and has been enabled to leave a 
permanent impress on science. 
1. (with I. H. Orcutt). The Cutworm. Bull. South Da- 
kota Exp., Sta., 18, 1890. pp. 29-36. 
