76 The American Geologist. August, 1900 
son is reported as having been well said, whereas there were 15 
well said in mathematics; 3 in astronomy, 9 in Latin, 7 in ety- 
mology, 4 in grammar, 7 (all) in scripture, and 2 in chemistry. 
He writes: 
"I caught a large water snake or water wampum as they are 
called here — one of the Colubers in Brandy wine, and brought it 
home. It was about as long as my leg, but very thick for its 
length, being somewhat more than two inches in diameter in one 
place. I afterwards found that it had eaten a large bull frog which 
somewhat increased its natural thickness. The people told me it 
would bite me, for everybody almost about here thinks water wam- 
pums are poisonous, and, indeed the way it struck at me scared me 
a little, but I soon convinced myself it was not, by examining its 
mouth which wanted fangs, and as all non-venomous have, it had 
four rows of small teeth in its upper, and two in its lower jaw, and 
two rows of scales under the tail," etc. 
The pen and ink sketches of which reproductions are given 
in plates XIII and XIV, belong to about this period. They 
show remarkable skill in portrayal and confirm the impression 
that the qualities which go to make a great naturalist are like- 
ly to produce a skillful wielder of the pencil, and brush. At 
least hosts of distinguished students of nature have been ex- 
pert and accurate draughtsmen, among them Leidy, Cope and 
Haeckel. 
In a letter from Jennersville, of May 15, 1858, at the age of 
nearly eighteen years, to his sister Elizabeth, he says: , 
"As usual, when I have no congenial company, natural history is my 
amusement and I have a good chance to study here. * * Probably 
at Westtown you may be interested in some new flowers, i. e. new to 
you. Here many interesting ones are found. The Nat. Ord. Orchi- 
daceae which is my pet, flourishes, and one nice one has so far rewarded 
my searches, it is Cypripedium acauie and is quite rare." * * "I will 
send you a plant by mail, like T. H. sends cuttings— in peat moss, which 
is very light and would cost but little postage." 
, "I have rummaged up all the Violae I could find— the results are, 
Viola cucullata (vars. sororia and reniformis) V. ovata, V. sagitatta^ V. ped- 
alta, V. palmata, V. pubescens, V. striata, and V.blanda. Can you show 
such a list? I have pressed these, and if any species not in this list, 
grow about Westtown, will you please take care to secure them? 
"This morning I examined the nice little Krigia virginica (Com- 
positae) and yesterday Pedicularis canadensis, (Scrophulariceae.) The 
woods are beautiful with' Rhododendron (Azalea) niidiflorum and 
Thalictrum anemonoides is'not yet gone. Trillium pendukun, a beauti- 
