72 The American Geologist. August, 1900 
Ernst Haeckel, in speaking of his great colleague to the 
writer, once said that he could quite believe the state- 
ment that Cope at the close of his career stood justly credi- 
ted with the determination of one-third of all the accepted 
fossil vertebrate species of North America.* 
For years while Cope was making the history of the va- 
rious branches of science which his talents adorned, various 
enemies were traducing him; but whenever he turned upon 
them and demanded light, the baselessness of their attacks 
was exposed. His wish to emulate the patience of his great 
Master is expressed in one of his letters in which he adds 
quaintly "but even He denounced them" (the Jews) "some- 
times." What Cope might have accomplished without the 
opposition which increased with his usefulness, can only 
be judged by what he did in spite of it. 
*In answer to an inquiry on this point Prof. Henry S. Osborn has 
had the kindness to send me a note from Dr. O. P. Hay, from which the 
following is an extracts 
* * "According to my examinations of the fossil vertebrates I find 
that there are something more than 3200 species described from North 
America, and of these Cope has given name to 1115. That is he has 
named that many species which, with our present knowledge, must be 
accepted as good. They are distributed as follows: Fishes, 227; Batra- 
chians, 73; Reptiles, 320; Birds, 8; Mammals, 487; Total, 1115." * * * 
According to this estimate of Dr. Hay Cope's contribution to the 
species of North American fossil vertebrates has been 34.8 p. c, or near- 
ly 35 f). c. of the entire number. 
