[page] 51

Charles Robert Darwin died April 20,1882. Just as we go to press this telegram has been received from London, accompanied by no particulars. He was born February 12, 1809, and the history of his long life is the common property of all intelligent people. Seldom has there been a life more busy or more fruitful, for it must be conceded that his powers of observation were phenomenal. His name has become so much a part of modern biology that it can never cease to be a familiar one. A great "path-breaker," many have followed in his footsteps and he had the good fortune to live long enough to see his work properly appreciated. It is almost needless to name his contributions to botany, for his books are in every library. Those with botanical subjects are as follows: "Fertilization of Orchids," "Insectivorous Plants," "Climbing Plants," "The Effect of Cross- and Self-Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom," and "Different Forms of Flowers in Plants of the same Species." His last book was upon the "Effect of the Earth-Worm on Vegetable Mould."

[page] 52

1882 Charles Robert Darwin died April 20, 1882, at the age of 73.

[page] 122

The Darwin Memorial.— No more fitting tribute can be paid to the memory of this distinguished naturalist than the Memorial proposed in the circulars sent out from the Royal Society and by the home committee of which Dr. Asa Gray is Chairman and Prof. Alexander Agassiz Treasurer. The subscription list contains the

[page] 123

most honorable names in Great Britain and it is especially desirable that the number of subscribers be great rather than the individual subscriptions, for in a memorial to this great epoch-maker in science should appear contributions from all those who appreciate his work or honor his memory, and their name is legion. The form which the Memorial is to take has not yet been decided, but it will probably include an endowment for a scholarship to cany on biological research. The English circular appropriately says: ''though the works of Charles Darwin form his best and most enduring memorial, his many friends and admirers feel that these should not be his only monument. They are desirous of handing down to posterity the likeness of a man who has done so much for the advancement of natural knowledge, possibly in the form of a statue to be erected in some public place. They wish further, if possible, to establish a Fund associated with his name, the proceeds of which will be devoted, in some way hereafter to be determined, to the furtherance of Biological Science."

In the English subscription list the amounts vary from two or three dollars to five hundred, so that any one can give, and we have no doubt that many readers of this will be glad to contribute within these limits. The home circular says that "subscriptions may be sent to Alexander Agassiz, Cambridge, Mass., who will acknowledge the same and forward them to the Treasurer of the English Executive Committee of the Darwin Memorial.'" — J. M. C.