NELSON— DK. JOEL ASAPH ALLEN 
257 
study collections of the Museum today are among the most notable 
in the world, containing more than 200,000 specimens of birds and mam- 
mals, and with the great collections in other branches of biology give 
this institution high rank as one of the increasingly great centers of 
scientific research. 
One of the greatest and most unselfish of the many services done for 
American science by Doctor Allen was his editorship first of the Nut- 
tall Bulletin and then of The Auk, the journal of the American Orni- 
thologists’ Union, which he continued for a period of 35 years. This 
editorship was notable for the painstaking character of the work, 
especially in the innumerable reviews of ornithological publications, 
which had much influence in encouraging and developing young 
ornithologists and in promoting the increase of ornithological research. 
In addition, he also served for many years as editor of the Bulletin and 
other publications of the American Museum, placing them on the high 
plane which they have always maintained. 
Doctor Allen continued throughout his life to devote the major 
part of his time to scientific research in birds and mammals, the extent 
and variety of which are shown by a bibliography almost unequalled 
in length by that of any other American scientist. Among these were 
several magnificent monographs, of which special mention may be 
made of those on ^‘The American Bisons,” ^^The History of North 
American Pinnipeds,” and that on the musk oxen, which were masterly 
contributions to knowledge. 
The early influence of Doctor Allen, and the small group of contem- 
porary leaders with him, developed an appreciation of the meaning of 
geographic variation and its effect on the fauna and faunal relationship 
beyond anything of the kind previously known. Eventually the 
influence of this work spread and has profoundly affected the methods 
of scientiflc study of zoology both in America and in other parts of the 
world. 
No account of Doctor Alienas career should omit reference to the 
extraordinary persistence and industry which continued throughout 
his life. He had a frail physique and suffered the serious handicap of 
more or less persistent ill health, and at intervals had physical break- 
downs which threatened to end his career. He had within, however, 
the marvelous Are of a great spirit which ignored weakness of the 
flesh and steadfastly carried on his work under conditions which to 
many would have appeared impossible. He early learned to conserve 
his strength and for many years devoted himself steadily to ofiSce and 
