these subjects was only the leisure hours snatched from the labors of a 

 large and successful practice of his profession. 



How few of us, Mr. Chairman, have ever accomplished, or can hope to 

 accomplish, so much in the intervals of a busy life ! All honor to our de- 

 ceased associate, who has achieved so much and so well in the pauses of 

 an active career! 



But not only are the Transactions of our Society enriched with elabo- 

 rate treatises by Dr. Engelmann on the various subjects that engaged his 

 attention, but especially have our meetings been made interesting and 

 instructive by the oral remarks, explanations and illustrations that have 

 fallen from his lips on the wide range of topics that from time to time have 

 engaged our attention. 



It was this aspect of his character that most interested me and that I 

 recall with the greatest pleasure, pnd shows to my mind not only the rich- 

 ness and universality of his knowledge, but also the precision and logical 

 correctness of his mental operations, and the directness and certainty with 

 which he reached true and just conclusions. No matter how varied were 

 the subjects introduced for consideration and discussion, Dr. Engelmann 

 was always ready and prepared, in a pleasant and unassuming way, to 

 throw additional light on them, and illustrate them by new facts not 

 presented by others; and, if false or unscientific theories or views were 

 presented, his clear insight would at once detect the sophism and expose 

 the sham. 



Then, too, on his return from summer trips or other excursions he 

 always came laden with new observations and discoveries gathered from 

 his close study of nature and natural objects, treasured up in memory and 

 imparted with almost boyish pleasure for the edification of the fellow- 

 members of the Academy. 



His annual addresses as President are models of their class in clearness 

 and succinctness of statement, and are full of interest, zeal and devotion to 

 the permanent establishment, growth and usefulness of our Institution. In 

 his annual address of January, 1868, he says, "The familiar faces around 

 me, many of them the founders of this Institution. * * * give encour- 

 ging proof of ever active zeal and of abiding faith in our future"; and fur- 

 ther on in the same address, after mentioning the difficulties under which 

 the Society had labored, he adds, "Notwithstanding all these drawbacks 

 and impediments, you have nobly built up and sustained the Academy, 



