Businessman, agriculturist, cattle breeder and amateur entomologist, Norton's special interest lay in the study of Hymenoptera, especially the ants. Elected a member of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia in 1861, for years he corresponded with Ezra T. Cresson, Sr. about collecting, exchanging and identifying Hymenoptera. The five lists included in these papers record (1) Abbreviations for the collecting localities for his own cabinet (2) Similar abbreviations for Smithsonian localities (3) List of European Ichneumonidae, etc. in the collection of E. Norton from C. Drewsen, Copenhagen (4) List of English Hymenoptera sent to E. T. Cresson and (5) One entitled: Labrador. W. C. L. The last three are attached to Norton's letter of March 13, 1868. A typescript biography and eulogy, by the Rev. George Clark, 1894, concludes the series.