Law.] 4U4 [May 1, 



EXPLANATION OF FIGURES. 



Fig. 9a, p. 184, side view of head, of Anelytropsis papillosus, | natural size. 

 Fig. 9b, top of head ; aad 9c, inferior view of same, both f nat. size. 



This figure was published ia the previous number of the Proceedings of 

 the Society, May 8th, 1885. 



Obituary Notice of William S. Vaux. By Philip E. Laic. 

 {Read before the American Philosophical Society, May 1, 1SS5.) 



"William Sansom Vaux was born in Philadelphia, on March 19, A.D. 

 1811. 



He was the eldest son of George Vaux, a member of the Philadelphia 

 Bar, and of Eliza H. Vaux, his wife, a daughter of William Sansom, who 

 was a prominent merchant in the East India trade at a time when Phila- 

 delphia formed the centre of the commerce of the United States, and who 

 was also famous for his enterprise in building. Many large blocks of 

 buildings, now largely converted into stores and business offices, remain 

 to testify to his sagacity in appreciating the growth of the City of Phila- 

 delphia. Mr. Vaux's parents on both sides were descended from the 

 members of the Society of Friends. His ancestors had been long settled 

 in the Province of Pennsylvania, and had long occupied a prominent and 

 respectable position there. Indeed, I understand that originally they 

 "were connected by marriage with the families of George Fox, the 

 founder of the Society of Friends, and of William Penn, the founder of 

 the province which bears his name. 



Mr. Vaux, however, in early life left the Society, and became connected 

 with the Episcopal Church. Inheriting as he did large means, Mr. Vaux, 

 was, I believe, never actively engaged in business except in that which 

 was made necessary by the management of the family estates. 



He early developed scientific and literary tastes, for the cultivation of 

 which his ample fortune gave him both the leisure and the means. 



Particularly was he devoted to mineralogy. In collecting rare speci- 

 mens, he spared neither time, labor nor money. His collection of rare 

 minerals became one of the most valuable in the United States. In 1834, 

 when about twenty-three, he was elected a member of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia ; continued an active member all his 

 life ; and rose to being one of its Curators, and afterwards Vice-President. 

 He was always a large contributor of money to its support. 



Mr. Vaux was one of the founders of the Numismatic and Antiquarian 



