If in the following pages the narrator's personality seems unduly to intrude itself the explanation lies in the fact that the relations between the subject of this biography and the writer thereof were such as ordinarily obtain between a father and son.
Mr. Morcom's greatest contribution toward ornithology lies in his aid and encouragement to others in the accomplishment of what they might not otherwise have done. In the case of my own efforts in this field, whatever the results achieved the opportunity came from him. Let this writing be my testimony thereto.
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, September 1, 1933.
Does any birder living today, in 2005, recognize the great explorations of more than a Century ago by early ornithologists and naturalists?
It is fitting that Harry Swarth wrote about George Morcom, as he too has passed away, and so yet another great naturalist, vertebrate zoologist, and scientist has passed away. Have all the classical naturalists died and gone away? Who will do natural history and descriptive ecology in the future?