Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04

Institution has learned with profound sor-
row OF the passing away on September 20,
1860, of the Hon. Robert Roberts Hit,
for thirteen years a regent of this institu-
ton. and since 1901 member of it's execu-
tive committee; and they here place upon
record an expression of their sense of loss
in the demise of their distinguished COL
league.
Mr.. HIT for a period of more than forty
years, served his country in various diplo-
matte Offices in the Department of State
and in the halls Of the national legislature,
where, besides furthering all good mea
sures, he was particularly distinguished be-
cause of his wise action chairman of the
committee on foreign affairs. using all his
efforts TO promote the welfare. of his
country and the peace of the world. His
broadly cultivated mind was especially
adapted to labors on behalf of this institu-
ton, and at all times as representative
member of the board and a member of
the executive committee he served its in
terests with ability, fidelity and conscien-
tiousneSs.
To the member of the board he was
dear friend and Il wise counselor, and
n ois s ssss' r.! iass is a s0sfee
3The fnafd tenders II Mrs. Hit and to
the family an expression of its sim
cere coincidence, with the assurance that
the memory of her distinguished hus-
band will ever be cherished by his col
leagues.
"Resolved, that a copy of this minute
and communicated to Mrs. Hit"
Scientific Writings.
He has contributed extensively to scien-
tific and general periodicals on subjects con-
nected with palaeontology. evolution and
current questions of science. and has de-
livered many papers and addresses before
learned bodies. In 1894 he published from
the Greeks to Darwin" a general history
of the evolution theory, as the first volume
of the Columbia University Biological Sc
res," edited by him. and for a number of
years has been preparing, in collaboration
with Prof William B. Scott of Princeton,
monumental work, American Fossil
Mammals
Prof Osborn was president of the Ameri-
can Society of Naturalists GS9D; vice
president of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, section of
| zoology QS92); second vice president Of the
New York Academy of Sciences Us9D, first
vice president 1S97-9S) and president $685.
1900; vice president and chairman Of the
executive committee of the New York Zoo
logical Society QS9D; president of the
American Morphological Society QS97). and
president of the Marine Biological Associa-
ton QS9S-19OO.
He was active in founding the Geological
Park in New York city, under the auspices
of the New York Geological Society In
April, 1901 he was appointed vertebrate
paleontologist of the Canadian geological
survey, as successor to Prof. Edward D.
Cope, and in June of the same year he sue
ceeded Prof Othniel c. Marsh in the Of
| fee of paleontologist of the United States
geological survey. In 1880 he received the
degree of SGD. from the College of New
Jersey.
He was married, September 90 1881. to
Lucretia Thatcher, daughter of Gen. Alex
ander j. Perry, u. s. A. OF their five chill
dren. two sons and two daughters survive.
He is LID. from Trinity and Princeton,
and Disc. from Cambridge, England
Immediately after graduation he accom-
panied the first Princeton exploring expe-
dition to the west. and in 1873 after a year
Of post graduate study in the natural
sciences, was member of the second sue
cessful expedition to Wyoming. During
the following winter he studied anatomy
and histology at the College Of Physicians
tai Medical School, New York city, and
during 1879-S0 resided in Europe, studying
biology with Ralfour, in Cambridge, and
Huxley, In London.
was awarded special biological fellow
ship by his alma mater. and In the course
of the year was appointed assistant pro-
fessor.
In 1881 he became professor of COM
parative anatomy, and held the chair for
nine years, meantime. in 1886, again visit
He accepted cali from ysnr Columbia 1dds Uni
versity in 1880 to the Da Costa chair Of
biology, with control Of the biological de-
partment to be planned by himself At
, the same tim che was chosen curator of
vertebrate paleontology at the American
Museum, of Natural History. and still
holds both positions.
In 1891. on the organization Of the fac
ulty of pure science at Columbia, he was
elected its first dean. and held the office
until 1895. when he resigned to devote his
tim eto original investigation and writing.
Prof. Osborn has directed fossil explora-
ton in the west on large scale, and has
been instrumental in the discovery and
idnetification of numerous new species
particularly OF pachyderms and reptiles
specimens Of which have ben placed In
the American Museum of Natural History.
Recently he has devoted much time to the
restoration of fossil animals. In conjunc-
ton with this work. he has engaged the
services of Charles knight. young artist,
who is well known as an animal painter.
The restoration OF tn ehuge fossil animals
in the shape of water-color paintings. rep
resenting as wei the vegetation OF the
period when the animals and reptiles were
living. now form an interesting series In
the archaeological hall in the American
Museum OF Natural History.
More Cholera DAatha