20 The Academy of Natural Sciences 



delivered as they were with a quaint earnestness which held the 

 attention even of those unable to follow his abstract deductions. 



These were the men who were actually engaged in original 

 scientific work on and about the fiftieth birthday of the Academy, 

 in connection with its library and museum. Their contributions 

 to knowledge were published in the Proceedings and Journal, 

 which were additionally reinforced by contributions from most of 

 the leading naturalists of America. 



Dr. Lea declined a re-election in 1863, and Dr. Wilson very 

 reluctantly and on the persistent urging of nearly every one he 

 met during his visits to the premises, allowed himself to be placed 

 in nomination, and was, of course, unanimously elected at the 

 annual meeting of that year. His term of office was the briefest 

 in the history of the Academy. He was not altogether satisfied 

 with the conduct of the entomological department, and had, with 

 characteristic zeal, allied himself with the American Entomol- 

 ogical Society, which had been founded in 1859 and incorporated 

 in 18C3. His sympathies during the war were distinctly South- 

 ern and therefore not in harmony with the rather aggressive 

 patriotism of the majority of his fellow-members. Moreover, his 

 desire to remain in retirement and to avoid any expression of 

 gratitude for his enormous benefits to the society made his posi- 

 tion as President distasteful to him. As a matter of fact he had 

 not presided at a single meeting when, on June 28, 1864, he sent 

 in his resignation. 



Dr. Wilson was succeeded by Dr. Eobert Bridges, 18 who had 

 been elected to membership in 1835. There probably has never 

 been one among those devoted unobtrusively to the interests of 

 the society who rendered more efficient service than Dr. Bridges. 

 He had served at various times as Librarian, Eecording Secretary, 

 Corresponding Secretary, Auditor and Vice-President, and did 

 effective work on numerous standing and special committees, 

 including those on the Library, Publications, Finance, Botany, 

 Entomology, Herpetology and Ichthyology, Physics and Chemis- 

 try. His unassuming modesty was like that of his predecessor, 

 and after one year in office he declined a re-election, and was 



18 Biographical Notice of Dr. Kobert Bridges, by W. S. W. Ruschen- 

 berger, M.D. Proceedings Am. Phil. Soc., xxi, 1884, pp. 427-447. Proceed- 

 ings of the Academy, 1882, pp. 226-230. 



