236 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



Donations to the Library : American Journal of Science, Sep- 

 tember, 1865, from the editors. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural 

 History of New York, Vol. VIII, Nos. 2-5. Journal de Conchy- 

 liogie, (3) V, 1, 2. Sea-Side Studies in Natural History, from 

 Alex. Agassiz. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History, 1864, Sheet 1. Astronomical and Meteorological Obser- 

 vations made at the U. S. Naval Observatory during the year 1863. 

 Check List of the Fossils of California and Nevada, by W. M. 

 Gabb. 



The following biographical sketch of Thomas Bridges was read 

 by Mr. Dall. 



Memorial Sketch of Thomas Bridges, Esq., P.L.S., P.Z.S., and 

 Member of the Cala. Acad. Sci. 



BY W. H. DALL, ACTING DIRECTOR SCI. CORPS, W. U. T. EX. 



Mr. Bridges was born at Lilly in Hertfordshire, England, on the twenty- 

 second of May, 1807. 



At an early age he became interested in Natural History, and when about 

 nineteen or twenty — having previously studied for some three years under Sir 

 William Hooker, at Kew Gardens — he sailed for Valparaiso. He remained 

 here or passed the time in some of the adjoining provinces, from 1827 to 1844, 

 when he returned to England on a short visit. On again reaching South 

 America, he undertook the explorations in Bolivia, so well kuown to naturalists, 

 through their magnificent results. During the course of this journey, in June, 

 1845, he discovered and obtained seeds of the great South American Water 

 Lily, the Victoria Regia, Lindley. Although the plant had previously been 

 detected, to Mr. Bridges belonged the honor of first introducing it into the 

 old world, by transporting seeds which subsequently germinated at Kew. 



In 1846, he returned to England, where for many months he was prostrated 

 by severe illness contracted in his arduous explorations. 



In 1847, he was married to Miss Mary Benson, of Bristol, England, a niece 

 of the eminent collector, the late Hugh Cuming. Soon after he proceeded 

 again to Valparaiso. 



In 1851, he visited and explored the island of Juan Fernandez. 



In the report of Lieut. Herndon, U. S. N., on his explorations of the Ama- 

 zon, he acknowledges his obligations to Mr. Bridges, for invaluable information 

 furnished, in regard to the head-waters of that river. 



In 1855, he proceeded to Panama, remaining there some six months; and 

 from thence to England, subsequently to France, and finally to California, 

 where he arrived in November, 1856. 



About 1857, he went to British Columbia, and remained nearly two years, 

 collecting and exploring. In the winter of 1858, his family, hitherto in Europe, 



