292 The American Geologist. >r'vy. I'^'Jo 
in 1845 of the Musci Alleghanienses, Mr. William S. Sullivant 
of Coliiiiil)Us had put himself at the head of American bryo- 
lo^ists, and was so recognized at home and abroad. The 
scientific collections of the Government in this department 
were coming into his hands for study and the field was in every 
way widening before him, bringing him more than he could 
do unaided. He was a gentleman of large fortune and was 
therefore not obliged to ask even a living from science. All of 
his work was done at his own charges, and most of it was pub- 
lished in a like manner. It was distributed among his fellow 
laborers in science with princely munificence. Mr. Sullivant 
called to his aid Mr. Lesquereux and for many years thereaf- 
ter, even to the date of Mr. SuUivant's death, the foremost 
bryologist of America and one of the most Accomplished bry- 
ologists of Europe worked side by side, in the completest ac- 
cord and harmony, with mutual respect for each other's ac- 
quirements and results. They effected thereby an immense 
advance in this department of science and made all future 
students of American bryology their debtors. Mr. Lesquereux 
was employed by Mr. Sullivant for one or two years and was 
afterwards aided in various ways in carrying forward his work 
by the generosity of his friend. They published together the 
two editions of Musci Exsiccati Americani, the first edition in 
1856 and the second in 1865. ,, Mr. Lesquereux also had much 
to do with the crowning work of Mr. SuUivant's life, the splen- 
did Iconcs Muscorum. The Latin text is in part his work, and 
the publication of the second volume was carried forward un- 
der his direction after Mr. SuUivant's death. 
Mr. Lesquereux's career has 1)een followed thus far without 
a single reference to the department of science in which by far 
his most important work was to be done, the department, 
namely, of paleobotany. His interest in this subject began 
before he left Europe. While still in Switzerland, he had ac- 
quainted himself with the foundations of fossil botany laid by 
Brongniart and others ; and as early as 1845 he began to pub- 
lish observations of his own in this field. But his real work 
in paleobotany began about 1850. A passing reference of 
Brongniart had suggested the view that coal-seams originated 
under conditions similar to those in which peat bogs are now 
formed. In the mind of one who knew more of peat bogs than 
anyone had ever known before, the suggestion took root and 
