Oliver Marcy, LL. D. — Crook. yi 
ual development along an unbroken chain of life, and that he 
accepted and advocated the theory of mechanical evolution. 
Many of the revisions of his thought came at a period in 
life when most men cling to the conclusions which they have 
acquired, whether the facts warrant the conclusions or not. 
This reasonableness of his character, together with his dili- 
gence as a student and the strength of his memory enabled 
him to become not only a well informed geologist, but in truth 
a profound scholar in the science. 
The only scientific monograph which he published was 
one* on the fossils of the Chicago Niagara limestone, prepared 
in conjunction with Alexander Winchell, and presented at the 
Boston Society of Natural History in 1865. It is a satis- 
factory paper in every way. 
Dr. Marcy will not be longest remembered as an author 
nor as a traveler. The only extended journey which he made 
was with a U. S. survey party to the Pacific coast, by way of 
Panama, as far north as Washington and across the Bitter 
Root mountains, between Idaho and Montana. The only ac- 
count of this trip was published in the college paper, and in 
the museum report for 1887. But he brought back much 
interesting material for illustration and a supply of observa- 
tions that added to the charm of his class room and the wealth 
of the museum. 
It is as a teacher that he will be longest remembered. He 
dealt with interesting subjects in an interesting manner, and 
was able to arouse enthusiasm among his students. He was 
approachable, being willing to spend unlimited time and labor 
with the interested inquirer, and showing a zeal for the char- 
acter as well as scholarship of the student. His voice was 
strong and pleasing; his manner clear and distinct. He 
was not critical in small things; was large minded, 
just, straightforward, generous, and had an open hand- 
edness and guilelessness that drew men toward him. 
There was little selfseeking in his nature, and losing himself 
in his work and in the interests of others, he fovmd his own 
highest good. For few men have been more fortunate in re- 
*"Enumeration of Fossils collected in the Niagara Limestone at Chi- 
cago." Prof. Alexander Winchell and Prof. Oliver Marcy. Boston So- 
ciety Natural History Memoirs, vol. I, pp. 81-114, 1866-1869. 
