LVIII BULLETIN NO. 2ii, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



He uo longer writes with the intention of publishing, but his micro- 

 scopical lithology, particularly of inclusions in crystals, of which he 

 has a most extensive collection, is bis almost daily employment, making 

 the most minute drawings on the labels, which are written by his own 

 hand.* 



His cabinet of quartz crystals consists of nearly one thousand speci- 

 mens, and corundum crystals nearly five hundred. His collection of 

 the mica group is the most extensive in the country, consisting of thirty- 

 five drawers. In addition to the collection of the large mica group, Dr. 

 Lea has several hundred sections of lamina prepared for the microscope, 

 with notes regarding their inclusions ; these consist chiefly of musco- 

 vite, phlogopite, cliuochlore, biotite, jeiierisite, hallite, &c., and were 

 intended for publication, but he had not the opportunity of writing the 

 descriptions. 



He was the first geologist who found fossil remains in the limestone 

 (Formation II of Kogers) of Chester County, and subsequently in the 

 same limestone of Bucks County, from the same formation, whence he 

 obtained trilobites, &c. 



Dr. Lea's love of nature ,was intensely strong. It began in early 

 life, increased with his years, and at the present time engages the most 

 of his attention. 



The wondrous productions of the Great Creator are evidence to him 

 of the wisdom and design which always prevail throughout His works. 



In all his scientific researches his brilliant and accomplished wife 

 always evinced the deepest interest. She was indeed his constant com- 

 pauiou until the year 1873, when, after an illness of fourteen years, she 

 was called to her heavenly rest. 



Mrs. Lea had studied thoroughlj^ the trees of this country and of 

 Europe. Mr. Nuttall said she was better acquainted with American 

 trees than any American botanist, and Mr. Michaux, who was a fre- 

 quent visitor during their stay in Paris, in 1852 and 1853, was surjorised 

 to 6nd a ludy who was so thoroughly acquainted with his own and his 

 father's works on the trees of North America. 



Dr. Lea's numerous contributions to science have been universally 

 recognized by the best scientists at home and abroad, as of great impor- 

 tance on the various subjects which he has published. The issues of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences and the American Philosophical 

 Society for sixty years justify this, and these publications have been 

 acknowledged by numerous learned societies, they having conferred 

 their honors upon him, as the following list will show : ex-president 

 Academy Natural Sciences ; vice-president American Philosophical 

 Society ; doctor of laws from Harvard University in 1852 ; honorary 

 member Asiatic Society, Bengal ; member Eoyal Piiysical Society, 



*A few of these may be seea in bis three papers, "Notes on microscopic crystals," 

 the plates of which were drawn by himself exhibiting surface markings and inclu- 

 sions. 



