INTRODUCTION. 
On August 19, 1887, Spencer Fullerton Baird, Secretary of 
the Smithsonian Institution, Director of the U. S. National Museum, 
and U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, died at Wood’s Holl, 
Massachusetts, his post of duty in the last named office. His death 
at once excited throughout the world feelings and expressions of 
profound regret. At that time nearly all of his Washington asso¬ 
ciates in scientific pursuits were absent from the city, on field duty 
or in vacation, and were thus unable to jointly testify to the affec¬ 
tion and respect in which he was held by them. 
And especially the scientific societies of Washington, none of 
which meet during the summer months, were unable to immediately 
take any action in the matter or to give organized expression to the 
sentiments of their members. 
With the resumption of meetings, however, it was determined 
that such expression should be given with all ceremonial complete¬ 
ness, and as the senior of the Washington scientific societies, and 
the one with which Professor Baird had been most closely con¬ 
nected, the Philosophical Society took the initial steps in arranging 
a joint meeting with the Anthropological and Biological Societies, 
a meeting which might enable the members and their friends to 
testify not only their profound respect for this foremost scientific 
leader, but also their afiectionate regard for the man. 
The appended invitation and programme, which was mailed to 
all members of the Philosophical, Anthropological, Biological, and 
Chemical Societies, and of the Cosmos Club, sets forth the form 
taken in those arrangements : 
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