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OBITUARIES.
JUSTas we go to presswe learn with the greatest sorrowof the death of Ruthyen Deane,on the morningof March 20, 1934,at his homein Chicago. Few, if any Fellows of the Union were more widely known or more beloved than Ruthyen Deane. While not engagedin active ornithological work in recent years, he maintained a deep interest in the history of ornithology and of ornithologists, while the welfare of the American Ornithologists' Union was ever uppermost in his mind. He had served for yearson both the Counciland the FinanceCommitteeand no meeting seemedquite successful without his genial presence. For many years he had kept up a voluminouscorrespondence with leadingmembersof the Societyin all parts of the country and they came to rely upon his delightfulnewsyletters for informationas to what was going on elsewhere. The servicewhich he renderedin this way he probably never realized. Alwaysloyal, cheerfuland sympathetic,with a keen senseof humor, and ever the perfect gentleman and lovable friend, he occupieda nichein the Union which no one can fill.--W. S. ROBERTWILSON SHUFELDT,U.S. A., a Founder and Retired Fellow of
the American Ornithologists'Union, died after a long illnessat Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 1934, at the age of 83. He was the son of Rear Admiral R. W., and Sarah H. Shufeldt, and was born in New York, December 1, 1850. He graduatedfrom Cornell University in 1871and took his medical de•ree at Columbia,now GeorgeWashingtonUniversity, in 1876. Shortly after, he was appointedfirst lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the Army and promotedto Captain in 1881. After severaldetails in Wyoming he was assignedto Fort Wingate, New Mexico, where he remained nearly
five years. In 1891he wasretiredfor disability,but duringthe war was restoredto active servicewith the rank of Major and assignedto duty at the Army Medical Museum. Pie was finally retired January 9, 1919. Dr. Shufeldt was one of the most voluminous writers in the ranks of
American ornithologists. Piis bibliography published in the 'Medical Review of Reviews' in 1920 included 1565 titles, which relate to all phases of ornithologyand includemany medicaland generalarticlesas well as popular contributions on natural history. Piis main ornithological
publications relateto anatomyand includea numberof descriptivepapers on osteology,a volume on the 'Myology of the Raven,' and an account
of the anatomyof the last living specimenof the Passenger Pigeon. He preparedthe plate illustratingthe anatomyof the commonpigeonwhich forms the frontispieceof the secondedition of Coues'Key.
Shufeldt was
a pioneerin photographingbirds and in severalarticlesin 'The Auk,' beginningin 1887, calledattentionto the value of photographyin orni-
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thologicalwork. In later years be becameinterestedin fossilbirds and publishedseveralpaperson avian paleontology,includingdescriptionsof ßa number of extinct species. In accordance with customa memorialpreparedby one of the Fellows will be presentedat a future meetingof the Union.--T. S. P.
ERNST JOHANNOTTO HARTERT,elected an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists'Union in 1902, died in Berlin-Si•dende,after a few days of illnesson November 11, 1933, shortly after his seventy-fourth birthday. He was one of the greatestornithologistsof all times and his death will be mourned by the whole ornithologicalworld. Harterr was born in Hamburg on October 29, 1859, and spent his childhood and youth in various parts of Germany (Hamburg, Silesia, Eastern Prussia, and the Rhine Province). Hunting and the intimate study of nature prepared him for his great task in life. The years of study were followedby yearsof travelling and exploring. From 1885to 1892 he took part in three expeditions,one to West Africa (Niger and Benue Region), one to the East Indies (Sumatra, Malay Peninsula,and British India), and one to the West Indies and Venezuela. The results of his explorationshe publishedin numerousscientificpapersand in a charminglywritten and highly informative book: 'Aus den Wanderjahren eines Naturforschers' (From the 'Novit Zool.,' 1901 and 1902). In 1890 he undertook the cataloguing of the famous bird collection of
the SenckenbergMuseumand in 1891 he wascalledto Londonto complete the 16th volhme of the 'Catalogue of Birds' (Swifts and Goatsuckers). Here he met Dr. G'dnther,the head of the zoologicaldepartment of the British Museum, who was so taken by the energy and ability of the young man that he recommended him to the Hon. Walter Rothschild as the best
candidatefor the directionof his new Museum in Tring. Harterr took over the new position of director of the Rothschild ZoologicalMuseum at Tring (Herts) in the fall of 1892--a positionhe held for 38 years, thus starting the most productive period of his life. With great persistenceand the harmoniouscoSperationof Lord Rothschild he built up a collectionwhich was not only by far the largest private bird collectionof the world, but alsobetter balancedand representativeof the bird fauna of the whole world than the collectionof any other museum. Although the annual accessions were tremendous,every collectionwas workedup immediatelyafter its arrival, an unparalleledexampleto other similar institutions. Harterr himselfwas an indefatigablecollector,who tore himselfaway from his scientificwork wheneverhe could, to spenda few monthscollectingin northern Africa or someother favored spot. He made beautiful skinsand was very particular about their labelling. His collectorshad a world-wide reputation for the beautiful and well-labelled collectionsthey sentto Tring, a fact whichwasquite a puzzleto someof his
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colleagues. I, as one who has collectedfor Harterr, can unveil the secret. Harterr was in constant touch with his collectors;he sent them advice, suggestions,and encouragementwith every mail, but he was amply rewarded for this interest.
The wonderfulcollections at hisdisposalenabledhim to write an amazing number of treatiseson the taxonomy of birds. In 1903 he began his monumentalwork, 'Die ¾Sgelder pal/•arktischenFauna.' This work, which he completedin 1922, will alwaysbe one of the classicsof ornithological literature. It was the first ornithologicalwork in which the modernprinciplesof classification (broadgeneraandconsistent application of trinomials for geographicalrepresentatives)were rigorously applied. It is still today the "bible" of the Old World ornithologist,and it is primarily responsiblefor the unparalleleddevelopmentof Old World ornithologyduring the last generation. Harterr did not restrict his interest to the PalaearcticRegion, but did equallygoodwork on birdsfrom Southand Central America,the African, Indian, Papuan, Polynesianand Australian Regions. He combineda universalknowledgeof birds, probablynot equalledby any ornithologist now living. It was not a superficialknowledge,however,but a mastery of any subjecthe took up. He wasthe outstandingauthority on Australonesianbirds,whichwerehis particularlove. In oneof his last lettershe wrote me: "I am again occupiedwith revising Palearctic birds and I don't work any longerwith New Guineabirds,whichnevertheless are for me the altogether most interesting ones, after those from the Solomon Islands." (Dec. 27, 1932). His interest was not restrictedto taxonomy, but comprisedmany subjectsof ornithology(particularlyoology,and the study of life-history);he had a fine collectionof Carabidae,and was also much interested in other branches of natural history. His working
capacitywas gigantic. Asidefrom his administrativedutiesas director of a flourishingmuseum,and the labor of a vast correspondence, he edited a journal, 'Novitates Zoologicae,'to which he was the main contributor. A bibliographyof his writingswouldfill many pages,and the numberof new birds describedby him (many in joint authorshipwith Lord Roths~ child) is much more than one thousand. The newprinciplesof classification advocatedby Hartert foundat first very little favor with the "old school"on the Continentand in England. "That a foreignershouldhave achievedso great a success in so heretical a missionin Great Britain, where ....
his views met with great op-
positionat firstfrommostof the olderandmostinfluentialornithologists of the time .....
tells morethan any wordsof the strengthof character,
the tenacityof purposeand the soundness of judgmentHartert broughtto histask,andthesetraits'werereinforced by intensesincerityand keenness, a constantreadinessto help and advise,as well as by an originaland very
likeable personality" (Witherby, 'Nature,' 1933). American ornithologistswho, at that time, alreadylargelyemployedtrinomials,were the
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first to appreciatehis work. The AmericanOrnithologists'Union elected him a Corresponding Fellow in 1891, and an Honorary Fellow in 1902, in recognitionof his merits. Soonhe was an Honorary Fellow of all the ornithologicalsocietiesof the world. In 1904 he receivedthe Honorary Doctor's degreeof Marburg University. On his seventiethbirthday a "Festschrift" was publishedin his honor by the German Ornithologists' Society, to which ornithologistsfrom all parts of the world contributed papers, and the British Ornithologists'Union, of which he was VicePresidentfor someyears, presentedhim with the Godman-Salvingold medal. In the springof 1930 he retired from his positionat the Tring Museum, and took up residencein Berlin. He was given a study-room at the ZoologicalMuseumand workedthereregularlyto within threedays of his death. His last ambition wasto bring his 'V/•gel der pal'/arktisehen Fauna' up to date; he had finishedthree parts of the supplementvolume. A monthbeforehis deathhe returnedto the huntinggroundsof his happy youth to attend an annual meetingof the GermanOrnithologicalSociety in Eastern Prussia. On this occasionhe was elected Honorary President of the Society. All his life he wasanxiousto further internationalgoodwilland eo/•peration. In 1905he wasSecretaryof the Fourth InternationalOrnithological Congress in London, and after the war he revived the International OrnithologicalCongressand was electedits Presidentat Copenhagenin 1926, a task for which he was particularly fitted owing to innumerable internationalacquaintances,and his fine personality. This is not the place to give an extensiveappreciationof his great personality;detailed obituarieshave appearedin the Europeanornithologicaljournals.. A few wordsfrom onewhohad the privilegeof knowing him will have to suffice.
Hartert combineda wonderfulkindnesswith great sincerity. He fought courageously for anything he had found true, be it a minor detail of nomenclatureor a basicprincipleof classification; but still he made no enemies,owing to his lovable and cheerfulpersonality. He was most generousand reliablein his adviceto fellow-workers,and never tired of training young ornithologistsoncehe noticed that they were really enthusiasticabout our science. Many of the leadingornithologists of today were "made in Tring."
Life wasnot alwayskindto him;helosthisonlysonduringthewar,and he had to witnessthe end of the great institution he had built up. He bravely overcameall these sorrowsand enjoyed the eve of his life at the side of his faithful and understandingwife. Death came suddenly,but it cannotdestroythe lastingimpression Hartert hasmadeon ornithological scienceand the picture he has left in the hearts of his friends.--ERNsr MX•R.
Obitua•ies:--H. F. Witherby, 'Nature,' 1933, p. 846; H. F. Witherby and F. C. R. Jourdain, 'British Birds,' 1934, p. 224; L. v. Boxberger,
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Beitr. zur Fortpfi., 1934•p. 26; E. Steinbacherand E. Stresemann,Journ. f. Ornith., 1934, p. 169. C•r•ESWE•.•.Jo• Hv•, an Associateof the American Ornithologists' Union died after a lingering illness,on October 18, 1933. He was born September16, 1880,at Vineland,N.J.; his parents,Josephand Henrietta JonesHunt being of English and Welsh stock respectively. His father died when Chreswell was but ten years old and his mother moved to Philadelphia. Here the boy attendedpublic schoolto what good effect may be seen in the literary quality of his writings, although this was probably due in part to his persistentreading,one of his favorite authors beingStuart Edward Wright, whoselove of nature is contagiousand doubtlessinfluencedyoung Hunt's after life. Graduating from the public school Chreswell was apprenticed to a printer and learned that trade well although his interestseven at that time where wholiy in the outdoors. In 1902 he came to the Academy of Natural Sciencesin Philadelphia and inquired of Dr. Witmer Stone if he might contributemigration recordsto the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club which held its meetingsat the Academy and was seeking additional recordersof migration phenomena. "! was much impressed"writes Dr. Stoneby his earnestness and ca•ein makinghis observations and not only accepted his assistancebut invited him to join the Club." He was electedon October 16, 1902, and in the sameyea• becamean Associateof the American Ornithologists' Union. He was one the of most active membersof the D. V. O. C. serving as Secretary from 1907 to 1909, when he removed from the city. He was also a member of the Wilson and Cooper OrnithologicalClubs and after removingto Chicagowas an organizer and Vice President of the Chicago OrnithologicalClub, member of the KennicottClub and a Director of the Illinois AudubonSociety. In associationwith a fellow member of the Delaware Valley Club he built a cabin on PensaukenCreek, New Jersey,acrossthe Delaware River from Philadelphia, which he named "Domus palustris" and there maintained a row boat in whichhe exploredthe surroundingtide water marshes at all seasonsand at ali times of day and night, learning the habits of their avian inhabitants. He also engagedin tramps through the famous New Jerseypine barrens,and spent much time on the Maurice River in the southernpart of the state, at the home of somebird-loving friends. Hunt never collectedbirds his soleinterest being the study of the living bird in its natural environment and his earnestnessand persistence in this line
of investigationrenderedhim quite as accuratean ornithologistas those who dependedupon the specimenin the hand. During his PhiladelphiaresidenceHunt was most prolific in his writing though he continuedto publish the results of his studiesafter removing to Chicago. He contributedto 'Cassinia,'the annual of the D. V. O. C., as well as to 'The Auk,' 'Bird-Lore' and the 'Wilson Bulletin,' and we find in all some33 titles in his bibliography. One is struck by the high literary
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quality of his contributionsand his attractive style of composition. His 'PensaukenDiary' and 'SomeBirds of a Maurice River Farm' (Cassinia, 1907 and 1908) stronglyremind one, in their chatty and slightly philosophicalstyle,of Thoreauor BradfordTorrey, while hislittle sketch'The Bird to the Bird Lover' (Bird-Lore, 1905) is one of the best explanations of what bird study meansto the ornithologist,that we know. Moving to Chicago in 1909 Hunt entered the Van Trump Testing Laboratories,in which he worked himseftup to the position of chemical engineerin testing asphalt for road construction. His work later took him afield and while superintendingconstructionin Arkansashe found
timeto gatherdatafor someinteresting andvaluablepapersonthebirdsof that state, which were publishedin 'The Auk' in 1921 and 1931. He also visited Biloxi, Miss., on vacations, when he felt the need of more out door life, and contributed to our knowledgeof the birds of this region (Auk, 1923, and 1929). Hunt was married on February 15, 1911, to Florence Smith and they had two sons, Chreswell Hedley and Witmet Smith Hunt.
Never of a robustconstitution,Hunt four yearsagobeganto showsigns of the fatal malady that finally carried him off, heart trouble and arteriosclerosis. He kept at his work, however,until he fell from his chair and had, in November, 1932, to be removedto a sanitorium in Chicago. Here he recuperatedsufficientlyto be taken to a farm near Elkhorn, Wisconsin, in the springof 1933. Here he was oncemore able to be amongthe birds and to enjoy to the full their study until the last migrants beganleaving for the south.
While still apparentlyas well asusualhe suddenlycollapsed, onemorning, at the breakfastt•ble, and died instantly. ChreswellHunt wasone of m•y whosepossibilities as an ornithologist were secondaryto the necessitiesof m,.lring a living but what he accomplishedstamphim as far abovethe averagebird studentand had he been able to accept a positionin the Philadelphia Aeademy, which had been
offeredhim, his namemight have beenfar moreprominentin the list of our bird students.--C.
W. G. EXFR•G.
OWEN DURI•E, an Honorary Life Associate of the American Ornithologists' Union, died suddenly, on April 18, 1933, at his home in Fall River, Mass.
Born February 13, 1863, in New York City, he was the son of George Borden Durfee and Eliza Owen Borden, members of two of the oldest
familiesthen living in Fall River. He was edueatedin a private school, and, later, in the public schoolsof Fall River, and graduatedfrom the BrooklynPolytechnicInstitute in 1884. Starting in business,in the real estate office of F. O. Dodge, Durfee later beeameidentified with the Fall
River Electric Light Co., in which Mr. Dodge was interested,and he remained with that company, in one position or another, the rest of his bnsinesslife, until, as treasurer,he retired in 1921.
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Mr. Durfee was married twice; on June 6, 1893 to Mary Katherine Bronson,who died December10, 1913;and by whomhe had three children, a girl and two boys who survive him; and to Harriet Tracy Maryell on May 22, 1919, who also survives. I-Ie seemsto have becomeinterestedin birds at an early age, as shown by his carefully written diary and notes, started at the age of sixteen. Always a very keen and careful observer,he confinedhis interest to New England birds, their habits and life histories, and gathered together a very beautiful collectionof their nestsand eggs,all collectedby himself, and preparedwith the greatestcare. This collectionhe very generously presented,in 1925, to the Boston Society of Natural History, of which he was later electedan Honorary Life Member. I-Ie was an AssociateMember of the American Ornithologists'Union since 1887 and an Active Member of the Nuttall OrnithologicalClub since October 6, 1902, having previously been a CorrespondingMember; and, whenever possiblehe attended the meetings, coming from Fall River to Cambridge in order to do so. Always an outdoorman, taking his vacationsin the spring,so he could spendhis time with his belovedbirds, and in hunting their nests,tragedy came into his life when, in the summer of 1920, he was stricken with arterial trouble in one of his legs, necessitatingits amputation, only to have the same trouble appear later in his other leg, which he also lost. Consignedthus, for the rest of his life, to a wheelchair, he showedthe most unbelievable pluck and patience, never complaining, even to those who knew him best.
I-Ie kept up his interest in birds, however,in spite of his terribly crippled condition,and, at the time of his death was helpingA. C. Bent, working over a large amount of egg data for the 'Life Histories of North American Birds.'--FRED
I•I. I•NNARD.
REUBENNELSONDAVIS, an Associateof the American Ornithologists' Union since 1920, died at his home in Dunmore, Pa., January 28, 1934, at the age of 75. He was a son of Charles and Julia A. Sheldon Davis and
was born on a farm at Lemon, Wyoming County, Pa., April 13, 1858. He was educatedat the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., and in 1902 receivedthe honorary degreeof Ph.B. from Illinois WesleyanUniversity. At the age of 17 he enteredon the professionof teachingand for 37 years taught in severalplacesin easternPennsylvania. For sometime he was principal of the Archibald High School. Mr. Davis was much interested in natural history, particularly in botany and ornithology. In 1912 he was appointed Curator of the Everha•% Museum in Scranton, Pa., and in 1924 was made Director of the Museum. In 1921 he visited the Canal Zone in charge of the L. A. Warres Expedition and brought back a valuable collection of birds and botanical material from that region. Mr. Davis did much to popularize the study of natural history in
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connection with his school and museum activities.
He was an occasional
contributor to 'The Auk,' and author of a publicationon the 'Butterflies of LackawannaCounty, Pa.,' 1914. In addition to membershipin the Union he was a member of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science,the American Associationof Museums,and the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.--T. S. P. ERRATUM. In an obituary notice in the January Auk of my old friend, Dr. LemuelFox Woodward,an errorhascreptin that deserves correction. It is said of Dr. Woodward that, while he was a student in the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University, he stroked the Varsity Crew. Actually, during eachof the years that he was in Cambridgethe stroke of the Varsity was one of the most famous oarsmenHarvard has produced-William
Amos Bancroft.
I knew Woodwardwell during theseyears,and am well aware--as the publishedrecordsof Harvard rowing substantiate•that, while he enjoyed the sport, his activities were limited to rowing in someof the minor crews, in 'club races' and scratch races, within the University. Indeed, the scientificwork in which he was engagedwas of so seriousa character that
he had little time for otherpursuits.--C. F. B.