106 BTOLOGICAi SOCIETY OF WASHINGTOIS^ 



but not until his name, through his scientific work, had become 

 familiar to scholars in both hemispheres. His synopsis of the 

 organic remains in the Cretaceous formation of the United States 

 gave him a high reputation and materially advanced the science. 

 Morton was enthusiastic and energetic, but neither vain nor arro- 

 gant. He was drawn into the early controversies which involved 

 the Philadelphian group of naturalists, and appears in them as 

 the especial champion of Say and Conrad. He had a literary 

 turn and strong I'eligious convictions, both of which are percep- 

 tible in his scientific publications. 



Thomas Nuttall. 



Although he was especially distinguished in the domain of 

 botany, yet by his shell collections in various parts of America, 

 and somewhat belated studies of this conchological material, it 

 becomes proper to include in this summary, a notice of Thomas 

 Nuttall. Born in Settle, Yorkshire, in 17S6, he was in very 

 humble circumstances, and as a journeyman printer had few 

 opportunities for mental development. Yet he was endowed 

 with a strong, clear intellect, the faculty of self-denial, and the 

 passion for study and for the investigation of nature. A hope of 

 improving his position in life and of finding opportunity for study 

 of the natural sciences brought him to the United States in 1S08, 

 when only 32 years of age. Through the influence of Barton, 

 the botanist, he was led to take up the study of plants, and a large 

 part of his life was thenceforth devoted to exploration and re- 

 search. In 1S17 he already had been admitted to several scientific 

 societies of high standing. In 1822 he succeeded Peck in chai-ge 

 of the botanic garden at Cambridge, Mass. In 1842 a small 

 estate near Liverpool was left him by a relative, on the condition 

 that he resided upon it at least nine months of every year. He 

 then returned to England, where he died at the age of seventy- 

 three, September 10, 1859. Durand says of him :* "He was a 



♦Biographical Notice, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc, vii, p. 297, i860. 



