Notices of Eminent Men deceased in Gai Britain. 301 
formation in various branches of natural history. . Some curious re- 
_ searches in entomology introduced him at an early period to the ac-— 
quaintance of Dr. Leach, and this was the first occasion on which - 
his talents became known beyond the circle of ‘his personal friends, - 
_. The prospect of succeeding: Dr. Leach at the British Museum open-. 
y _ eda new field to his mind; and although he was frustrated ‘in this * 
expectation by the Appointment of Mr. Childien, he applied f 
from this time with eased energy to his researches in natural 
history. An reaiediee of the structure and nature of the organic 
remains of the Dnsjncs, for which the vicinity of. Bristol affords so 
temarkablé a field, now became-his- favorite pursuit. It was while 
he was engaged in the publication of his well-known work on the - 
Crinoidea,* that he became known to the Rev. W. D. Conybeare, 
whom his merit was soon ‘distinguished: and very highly apprecia- 
ted. As the work was going through the press, Mr. Conybeare 
_ Kindly undertook to revise it, and, by correcting the peculiarities of 
| a forei idiom,t to render it more acceptable to the public than it 
ee erwise have been.’ In’ this publication. Mr. Miller had to 
. “surmount. many difficulties; and: although it became the means of 
spreading universally his reputation as a profound and accurate natu- 
ralist, it was to him a source not only of present expense, but of ul- 
_ timate pecuniary loss. ‘This may be attributed in part to his great 
erality-of disposition. I am informed that he gave ‘away not less 
a hundred copies of his work, -principally’to individuals whom 
' Supposed. unable to purchase it: His pen.was always ready and — 
Were requested, as the many. letters of thanks and works presente 
ohim in consequence of such assistance will sufficiently oath 
Notwithstanding the difficulties he experienced at his first itlioagiety 
Was not discouraged.” ~ He contemplated and had arranged in his 
mind the materials for a second work on fossilized corals, and like- 
_Wise-an appendix to that on the Crinotdea. There was scarcely a 
department of natural history to which he had not directed his mind 
with zealous and intense application; and there is no. doubt that he 
work in the library of, Yale College; and this is a work” 
Ther 
ere is a copy of this transition and early 
tiie should be attentively studied by. those who examine our 
' Secondar 
Thi : eon was strictly ‘ptiinsil to the correction of such idiomatic inac- 
as might have obscured the sense to an English reader; in all other cases 
it was considered in every respect desirable scrpaloasly to preserve unaltered the 
author’s own expressions.—W. D. C. 
on. XX 
= 3; . » 
GETING Sa. a rie gee 
