352 NATURAL SCIENCE. May, 1895. 



that subject. In his chosen field of reseach, botanical chemistry, he 

 had already proved himself an investigator of considerable ability. 

 His last work on this subject is contained in the recently published 

 " Practical Physiology of Plants," the authorship of which he shared 

 with Mr. Francis Darwin. A perusal of the papers contributed by 

 Acton to botanical science does not lead to an adequate appreciation 

 of his scientific attainments ; but those who were privileged to be his 

 colleagues know too well the severe loss which botanical chemistry 

 has sustained. As a friend has admirably expressed it, Acton was in 

 truth " a man " ; a teacher who won the best form of appreciation, 

 the respect and friendship of his students, and a friend who will 

 always be remembered by those who knew him, not only as an able 

 scientific thinker, but as one in whose strong personality there was 

 reflected a sterling manhood, a thoroughness of action, and an 

 honesty of purpose. 



ROBERT FITCH. 



Born October 21, 1802. Died April 4, 1895. 



THIS well-known Norfolk antiquary and geologist was born at 

 Ipswich, and was educated at the grammar school of his native 

 town. He was apprenticed to a chemist and druggist, removing for 

 a few years to London, and in 1827 entering into partnership with 

 his brother-in-law at Norwich, where he has ever since resided. He 

 became a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1844, an< ^ devoted his 

 energies in a geological direction to the collection of flint implements 

 and vertebrate remains in particular. These remains, together with 

 an extensive and valuable series of antiquarian interest, he presented 

 in 1892 to the Norwich Museum, himself providing the cases in which 

 they are displayed. Fitch's writings were mainly concerned with 

 archaeology, but his contributions to geology were of considerable 

 value and interest. He numbered among his friends Sedgwick, 

 Murchison, Darwin and Lyell, and was in constant correspondence 

 with men of the younger school, one of whom, Mr. E. T. Newton, 

 fittingly attached his name to a new Cervus found by him in the Forest 

 Bed at Bacton. 



Robert Fitch was a magistrate for the city of Norwich from 

 1858, he became sheriff in 1867, was a director of the Norwich 

 Union Fire Office, and w r as a most important man to his town. He 

 was one of the last of the old Norfolk geologists, who numbered 

 among them such names as Samuel Woodward, R. C. Taylor, J. W. 

 Robberds, C. Green, Anna Gurney, and a host of others of more or 

 less importance. 



Jean Edouard Bommer, Professor in the Brussels University, 

 Curator of the State Botanic Garden, and formerly President of the 

 Royal Botanic Society of Belgium, died at Brussels on February 19, 

 in his 66th vear. 



