THOMAS NUTTALL. 2II 



with icebergs. When his persistent requests were sternly 

 refused he was much disappointed and displeased, being 

 unable to comprehend such indifference to the cause of 

 science. 



He arrived in October, 1835, and again took up his abode 

 in Philadelphia to work up the rich treasures gathered on his 

 long journey. For several years he and Dr. Pickering worked 

 harmoniously together at the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 the former on his own collections, the latter on the Schweinitz 

 herbarium. Two important memoirs based upon the fruits of 

 the trip across the continent were published about 1840 in the 

 Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. Con- 

 chology was a new subject of study to Nuttall, and he became 

 much absorbed in it. He did not trouble himself much about 

 his meals when at work, and Dr. Pickering would often return 

 after an hour's absence from the academy hall in the middle 

 of the day and find him stooping over a case of shells in the 

 same place and position as when he left him. 



Nuttall was a remarkable looking man. His head was very 

 large, bald, and bore the signs of a vigorous intellect ; his fore- 

 head was expansive, but his features small, and his gray eyes 

 looked out from under fleshy brows. His complexion was fair, 

 and sometimes very pale from close application to study and 

 lack of exercise. He was above medium height, his person 

 stout, with a slight stoop, and his walk peculiar and mincing, 

 resembling that of an Indian. 



He was naturally shy and reserved, but, if silent and per- 

 haps morose in the presence of those toward whom he felt no 

 attraction, yet with congenial companions he was communica- 

 tive and agreeable. It will readily be surmised that his devo- 

 tion to science frequently led him into actions that were 

 strangely at variance with the circumstances of the moment. 

 In one of his solitary digressions in the wilderness he got lost. 

 The party he was with resumed its march, sending out some 

 friendly Indians to find him and bring him to rejoin it. The 

 Indians performed their duty faithfully. Looking upon him, 

 however, as a great medicine man, they were afraid to come 

 close to him, so they surrounded him, keeping at a respectful 

 distance. Nuttall soon became aware that he was watched by 

 savages, and, not knowing whether they were friends or foes, 

 became intensely alarmed. From what he had already ex- 



