io The American Geologist. 
July. \[Wi. 
discoveries thai were at the time famous. His early scholar- 
ship never deserted him and so in emergencies he would for the 
time assume the chair of Greek or Latin, logic or moral sci- 
ence, to the delight of his classes. The expression "All round 
scholar" found an exemplification in him. 
Quiet humor, laconic speech, and the enjoyment of a happy 
turn not unfrequently enlivened his class experiences. One 
or two incidents may show this. The college class of 1842 of 
Middlehury never forgot one day's exercise. The students, as 
was the custom of those days, were called on in their turn to 
recite. When H. M., fleet of tongue but not always careful in 
his preparation, was called, he went glibly with a long disquis- 
ition that had no real relation to the assigned topic, and coming 
to a halt, the professor quietly said "Not correct." Tacking 
he again tried his skill in improvising and at length coming to 
a rest he heard the same words "Not correct." The young man 
at his wits' end then impulsively exclaimed, "Then I don't 
know anything about it. Correct," instantly from the pro- 
fessor; "Next," and the recitation proceeded — proceeded as 
well as the electrified condition of the class permitted. 
Another incident that has gone into print, rather fantastic- 
ally dressed, really belongs here. Some of professor Adams' 
boys at Amherst College did as they thought a nice bit of work, 
and it was well done. Taking the head of one insect, the mid 
body of another and the hind body of a third they neatly joined 
the fragments. Then bringing the triple monstrosity to the 
professor they confessed their perplexity in regard to the class 
and name of the object. The professor looked at it a moment 
then remarked, "Gentlemen this is a hum-bug." 
The classroom and laboratory work at Middlehury college 
must have been exacting yet he found time to make a complete 
collection of the Mollusca of the state. And this was a small 
portion of his outside work. The collections illustrating the 
various branches of zoology in addition to geology and miner- 
alogy, bear evidence of his swift and certain hand. He dupli- 
cated and more than duplicated this work at Amherst. 
Life was full of promise to himself, his family, and to the 
scientific world. Near ten years of professional life had been 
spent in connection with Middlebury college, and half that time 
with Amherst. With slender help from without he was push- 
