Dll. .loriN L. LKrONTK. 



described or at least named 4731) nominal species), and that in his works 

 will be found original definitions of more than 1100 of the higher groups, 

 besides nearly 250 synoptic or analytic tables, some of them several times 



remodeled.* 



These entomological studies, while they formed the principal features 

 of LeConte's scientific life, were not the only ones which enjoyed his at- 

 tention ; for the liberal training he received, the paternal example, and his 

 own general receptivity made him at home over much wider fields. One 

 of hil earliest papers was upon a mineralogical topic, and between 1848 

 and 1857, the ten most prolific years of his life so far as the mere num- 

 ber of papers is concerned, he published various minor essays on geology, 

 radiates, recent and fossil mammals and ethnology, indicating the activity 

 of his mind in many directions; and his general papers on various occa- 

 sions, as well as his conversation, showed his familiarity with the advance 

 of science in all directions. 



That LeConte was the greatest entomologist this country has yet pro- 

 duced is unquestionable. Fadk pHnceps will be the universal judgment 

 both now and by posterity. His worth was early recognized. European 

 entomolo-ists who crossed the ocean paid him their first visit ; and all, 

 charmed with his learning and affability and the freedom with which he 

 communicated his rich stores of knowledge, always spoke with enthusiasm 

 of his erudition and his generous and simple spirit. It was the same on 

 his visits abroad. His minute familiarity with all the details of structure 

 throu-h long series of varied degrees of complexity, his wonderfully re- 

 tentivl memory, his quick and accurate judgment, his courage and self- 

 reliance, all gave his words weight, and his counsel and opinion were 

 eagerly sought by his confreres. This is further shown by the fact that 

 he°was receh-ed into the limited circle of recipients of honorary member- 

 ship in all the older and larger entomological societies of Europe.f 



On several occasions, it was my chance, while in Europe, to follow in 

 his steps, and it was always to find those who had seen him, most hearty 



"TXn index to the Coleoptera described by Dr. LeConte has been published by 

 Henshaw (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. ix, 197), who also compiled, several years since, a 

 list of his entomological writings (152 numbers, since increased to ISO) which was 

 published as the first of Dimmock's Special Bibliographies, issued with Psyche vol. u. 

 t LeConte was a crrespondiug or honorary meinl)cr of more than thirty socie- 

 ties, about equally distributed between this country and Europe. He was also one 

 of the founders of the American Entomological Society. He was elected, in 1874, 

 to the prosideucy of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 and at the time of his death had been several years a vice-president of the Amer- 

 ican Philosophical Society. 



(5) SKl'TKMIlKK. 1SS4. 



