THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 297 



Only the ardent lovers of nature can understand his 

 feelings when, on that occasion he showed Dr. Asa Gray 

 and Mr. Carruthers, President of the Linnsean Society, the 

 secluded Schiztca pusilla Pursh. Nor can the joy of those 

 gentlemen he -expressed when their eyes rested on that 

 quaint fern form growing wild for the first time. 



He was elected to active membership in the Torrey 

 Botanical Club, of New York, January, 1891. Although 

 publishing but little on botanical subjects, he corresponded 

 with most of the botanical authorities in America and made 

 numerous exchanges. Perhaps his most important labor 

 consisted in inducing the young to study botany, and his 

 greatest pleasure seemed to be in imparting to others, either 

 in the field or in his " den," a portion of his rich store of 

 knowledge. Chiefly with this object in view, he founded 

 the Philadelphia Botanical Club, in December, 1892, of 

 which he was President from its organization until the 

 time of his decease. 



Dr. Brinton was married on November 13, 1862, to 

 Sallie W. Clemens, of Philadelphia. A married daughter 

 and two sons survived him. As a source of consolation, 

 after the death of his wife, he engaged more earnestly in 

 botanical studies. 



Dr. Brinton was noted for the accuracy of his observa- 

 tions in field excursions, in which he was generally recog- 

 nized as the leader and guide. His methods were always 

 painstaking and careful, and in his aim to secure choice 

 specimens, no trouble, labor nor expense was too great. 

 His botanical specimens were preserved in the most 

 approved and artistic style and identified with the most 

 scrupulous care. He had a marvelous memory for names 



