xviii MEMOIR. 
of nature as his visit to Cincinnati, soon after 
leaving college. The fossiliferous rocks of that 
region could not hut attract his attention ; and 
during his stay there, he spent most of his hours, 
so far as his strength admitted, in lying upon the 
rocks, and in chiselling out the fossil remains. 
Most of the Silurian fossils now belonging to the 
Natural History Society, were obtained by him at 
that time. His first visit to Europe contributed 
greatly to foster and enlarge the taste already 
formed for Natural Science ; and he availed him- 
self of the opportunity to procure many shells 
from the Mediterranean, and many valuable min- 
erals. 
In February, 1830, there was a meeting of 
gentlemen, which resulted in the formation of the 
Boston Society of Natural History. Dr. Binney 
was one of the number, and was appointed one 
of a committee of five to recommend measures 
for its organization, and the best means of inter- 
esting the public in its favor. In connection 
with the late Simon E. Greene, Esq., he under- 
took to call on gentlemen likely to be favorable 
to the proposed objects of the Society, and 
obtain their cooperation. At a subsequent 
meeting, he was appointed on the committee to 
