Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/348

316 was the author of many ornithological papers, some published by himself alone, and others conjointly with Dr. Sclater and Mr. Godman. With the last named he contributed the ornithology to the 'Biologia Centrali-Americana,' still uncompleted. As an entomologist he was a lepidopterist, and confined himself to the Rhopalocera. His great work is of course in the 'Biologia,' written in conjunction with Mr. Godman, and nearing completion with the Hesperiidæ. In this last family we see a matured view of treatment, where the structural characters of anal appendages are largely used in specific differentiation, a principle not insisted on in the earlier parts of the work.

But a bare recital of published work scarcely fulfils the compass of this obituary notice. In association with his life-long friend Mr. Godman we see a capacity and love for scientific zoology combined with the accident of wealth which are phenomenal. The publication of the 'Biologia Centrali-Americana' is an unique event both in project and realization. Its conception not only proclaimed a devotion to zoological labour on the part of its editors, but declared an optimism in the expected assistance of other workers, which was generally seen to be amply justified. The expense of production would have strained the available finances of a small state, and would have required a financial vote—not likely to have been granted—of an enlightened empire. Such amounts are privately wasted every year, but seldom contributed to science, especially to such a sober and non-advertising science as zoology.

Nor must we overlook the fact that, though of a modest and retiring nature, Mr. Salvin still exercised a great personal influence in official biology. He not only was a member of, but also a frequent office-holder in, our Natural History Societies, to which he was a regular visitor and active councilor, while his friend and coadjutor is a Trustee of the British Museum. It is probable that it will be long before such an union occurs again as produced the 'Biologia,' and made the rooms in Chandos Street such a zoological rendezvous.