THE LATE REV. GEORGE GORDON, M.A., LL.D. 71 



provincial museums in Scotland. He frequently visited the 

 Museum, and till almost the close of his life he was ever on 

 the outlook for additions to its collections. 



In 1859 the University of Marischal College in Aberdeen 

 conferred on him the degree of LL.D., in recognition of his 

 scientific merits. His jubilee as minister of Birnie was cele- 

 brated in 1882 by his parishioners, by his colleagues in the 

 Presbytery of Elgin, and by the members of the Elgin 

 Literary and Scientific Association, amid conspicuous proofs 

 of the high respect and love in which he was held. 



In 1889 he retired from the parish of Birnie on account 

 of his great age, and took a house (Brabirnie) in Elgin, 

 where he resided to the time of his death. Mrs. Gordon 

 died in 1889, at Braebirnie. Dr. Gordon possessed excellent 

 health, and showed little sign of loss of strength till about a 

 fortnight before his death, when he was attacked by influenza. 

 Congestion of the lungs followed, and he sank peacefully to 

 rest on the I2th December 1893. He is survived by four 

 sons and two daughters. 



Dr. Gordon's life was almost wholly spent in the pro- 

 vince of Moray, except for occasional visits to Shetland or to 

 other parts of Scotland ; and his work was so largely done 

 in Moray that one is apt to overlook such of it as related to 

 other districts ; but a good many notes and short papers pass 

 beyond Moray. It may be said that there are few books or 

 important papers on the natural history of Scotland, published 

 in the latter part of this century, that have not profited by 

 information contributed by him. We understand that 

 there is some probability of the copious manuscripts left by 

 him being revised with a view to the selection and publica- 

 tion of such material as may seem to be of most interest and 

 value ; but as yet it is difficult to estimate aright in what 

 form this may best be done. There can be but one opinion 

 as to the desirability of preserving from oblivion, and of 

 making useful to his fellow-workers, whatever can be gathered 

 of the matured wisdom of one, the recollection of whom will 

 remain with those who had the privilege of his friendship as 

 that of no ordinary man, but of a leader in all that doth 

 become the truest and best type of manhood. 



J. W. H. T. 



