XXVIII BULLETIN NO. ^3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Mactra^ Gnathodon, Amphidesma, &c. Desiiig listened witb interest to 

 wliat was said, aud seemed to have well considered some of the facts 

 connected with the anatomy of the animals. His investigations had 

 been chiefly in the Annelides and intestinal worms. 



It was with great regretthatDr. Lea finally parted with these Vienna 

 gentlemen, who had been kind to a marked degree, i)articularly Pro- 

 fessor Haidinger, who remained his correspondent until his death. 



Leaving Vienna with his family he made the journey to Prague by 

 railway, a distance of 250 miles. The country is almost perfectly level, 

 being diluvian, aud is thoroughly cultivated, the peojole appearing 

 prosperous and happy. In the latter part of the journey the formation 

 is transition (graywacke). 



At Prague he called upon Barrande, whom he had met at Verneuil's 

 dinner in Paris, but he had gone to the country, and Dr. Lea did not see 

 him again as he had hoped. Thus he lost the advantage of examining 

 probably the best collection of fossil remains of the Silurian formation 

 in existence. Barrande had already sent his extensive work to him. 



At the beautiful city of Dresden Dr. Lea visited the Green Vaults, 

 where he saw the splendid collection of diamonds and other precious 

 gems for which this city is celebrated. There were many diamonds of 

 different colors, among which the green one is the largest and rarest. 



During his visit at Berlin he had interesting interviews with Hum- 

 boldt, Ehrenberg, Johannes Miiller, the two Eoses, and others. Hum- 

 boldt was still active, and was then engaged on his Cosmos. The great 

 philosopher had sim])le but thoroughly well -bred manners. Though 

 living at court, as one might say, for the King always had a plate for 

 him at his own table, he had none of the formality of a courtier. As an 

 astronomer, geologist, and geographer he had few equals, and the in- 

 terest he felt in the new discoveries in geology and physical geography 

 was unabated. He went to the point of a subject at once, and with pen- 

 cil in hand demonstrated his views. In the course of an hour and a 

 half's conversation in his study he frequently got up to bring maps from 

 his library to illustrate his subject. He showed Dr. Lea some of his 

 l^lates and drawings for his new volume of Cosmos. He expressed great 

 satisfaction with the geological surveys which were then being made in 

 the United States, and with the many valuable observations in astron- 

 omy, magnetism, &c. He regretted that some of the reports of the sur- 

 veys made to Congress were not better printed and illustrated. 



He mentioned the Coast Survey and Professor Bache as connected 

 with it. He also spoke of Captain Wilkes's expedition with great 

 favor, as well as of Professor Mitchel, the astronomer, and others who 

 were " doing good service to science." The Nebraska " Mauvaises 

 terres" was discussed, and with the map before them Dr. Lea men- 

 tioned the researches which had been made by Dr. Owen, and the 

 paper of Dr. Leidy. Humboldt spoke of the good reports of the New 

 York geologists and others. Of Mr. Lyell he said, " there was little 



