68 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
inal. How well this work was done is shown by the fact that, in 
spite of the changes which are constant in zoological classification, 
nearly all the species still retain the names he applied to them. The 
descriptions were so carefully prepared that later students have never 
been troubled in making their identifications. 
Notwithstanding his multifarious duties in later years, Professor 
Baird never lost his interest in these animals, and up to the last 
afforded every aid and encouragement to those studying them. 
Much of the work done in this country by such herpetologists as 
Girard, Kennicott, Hallowell, Cope, and others, found in his ex¬ 
ample and encouragement the stimulus which made it possible, was 
built on the foundations which he laid, and owes its publication to 
agencies which he promoted or controlled. 
Fishes .—-Professor Baird’s contributions to ichthyological liter¬ 
ature number some fourteen or fifteen papers, chiefly of a descriptive 
character, embodying the results of original research into the ichthy¬ 
ology of western and southwestern America and of the marine 
fishes of New Jersey and New York. Most of these papers were 
published jointly with Charles Girard. 
Besides these, however, he added more than four hundred titles 
to the list of reviews, notices, reports, translations, and official docu¬ 
ments relating to economic ichthyology, fish culture, and the gen¬ 
eral progress of the science. In this way he was instrumental 
in bringing together for the use and benefit of the English-speaking 
public the largest body of facts relating to fish and fisheries ever 
prepared and digested for such purposes by any individual or 
organization. Recognized by experts of foreign countries with one 
accord, as the most eminent living authority on economic ichthy¬ 
ology, America owes to his fostering care and unwearied labor the 
existence of a whole generation of ichthyologists, breeders of fishes, 
and inventors of appliances of all sorts for use in connection 
with the taking, preservation, and increase of these animals. So 
thoroughly is this understood by all who are in any way acquainted 
with American fish and fisheries, that to them this statement will 
appear a truism. 
It does not enter into the purpose of this address to enumerate 
the economic results of the Commission which grew into such stately 
proportions under his skillful and progressive leadership, nor yet 
to enumerate the multitudinous researches in pure as well as eco- 
