X BULLETIN NO 23, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



river led him to the collection of the land shells, of which he made a 

 thorough study, and this brought him to observe the plants, and botany 

 became eventually his principal study, and resulted in the publication 

 of " The Plants of Cincinnati," in which was included all the crypto- 

 gams. This study changed the course of his life, which thereafter was 

 given up to natural history. He said he " did not know what it was to 

 live on God's earth before." 



These collections of Unionidce, &c., with others from friends elsewhere 

 in the United States, enabled Mr. Lea to open correspondence in all 

 the large cities of Europe, putting him in communication with most of 

 the prominent naturalists of the time, and his exchanges brought him 

 the choicest and rarest specimens. 



hi 1827 he published his first conchological paper, " Description of 

 six new species of tbe genus UnioP It was presented to the American 

 Philosophical Society and published in their Transactions. It consisted 

 of descriptions of the six new species, and he did not then know that 

 he should ever describe another species, so little was the scientific 

 world aware of the vast number of species which inhabited the numer- 

 ous rivers, lakes, and small streams of the United States; indeed, prov-« 

 ing that this country was literally the home of the Unionidce, 



In 1828 Mr. Lea was elected a member of the American Philosophical 

 Society and soon became active in promoting its interests. He was 

 made chairman of the jjublication and finance committees, which office 

 he held until his visit to Europe in 1852, at which time he sent in his 

 resignation. 



At this time also (1828) he became a member of the " Wistar Associ- 

 ation," so well known throughout the country. It consisted only of 

 members of the American Philosophical Society and a single negative 

 vote was sufficient to prevent the election of a proposed member. It 

 was a rule also that no person should know that his name had been 

 proposed. This association was formed in 1818 after Dr. Wistar's death. 

 He was president of the American Philosophical Society, and it had 

 been his custom to receive his learned friends at his residence on Sat- 

 urday evenings. After his death the gentlemen who had enjoyed these 

 gatherings for so many years determined to form an association and 

 gave it his honored name. The following-named gentlemen composed 

 its membership the first year: Judge Tilghman, Professor Patterson, 

 P. S. Du Ponceau, John Vaughn, Eeuben Haines, Eobert Walsh, jr., 

 Z. Collins, Dr. James, and Dr. Robert Hare. In 1821 the number was 

 increased by adding the names of Judge Hopkinson, William Meredith, 

 Dr. Chapman, Mathew Carey, Nicholas Biddle, Dr. Dewees. and Lang- 

 don Cheves. In 1824 Horace Binney and John Sergeant were added to 

 the list. John Vaughn was appointed dean, which position he filled 

 until his death, in 1841, when Mr. Lea was appointed to fill the vacancy, 

 which position was held by him until the association was dissolved by 

 the war of secession in the year 1861. 



