Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 74.djvu/54

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY
Fig. 4. Prince Maximilian: from his "Reise nach Brasilien."

Very appropriately Drummondia, a genus of American mosses, was named in Thomas's memory by his patron, Sir William Jackson Hooker. Numerous species of our phanerogams are also named after this most industrious and successful collector.

Even persons of royal lineage were numbered among the many naturalists who came to America for the purpose of exploring unknown sections for new plants and animals, and to make scientific observations. While Prince Alexander von Humboldt attained eminence for his travels and scientific worth, he was not the only royal person who did so, although we generally hear no other mentioned. Alexander Philip Maximilian, Prince of Wied neu-Wied, came to the New World on two different occasions. On the first tour he visited Brazil, and on the second he visited the United States and especially the northwestern or Missouri country.

Prince Maximilian[1] was born on September 23, 1782, in Wied

  1. Thwaites, R. G., "Early Western Travels," Vols. 22, 23 and 24.
    Maximilian, Prince, "Reise nach Brasilien," 1820-1.
    Sargent, C. S., "Silva of North America," 9: 138, 1896.