390 NATURAL SCIENCE. Nov., 



International Geological Congress in 1888, when the meeting was 

 held in London. Again, whether serving on the councils of the 

 Geological Society or of the Geologists' Association, his services were 

 in frequent request. He filled the office of President to the Associa- 

 tion in 1885-86, and on many an occasion he acted as guide during 

 the excursions of the members. Among these societies, as on the 

 Geological Survey, his loss will for long be keenly felt, for he was 

 ever ready with help and information. In the economic applications 

 of geology, Mr. Topley was especially interested. The subject of the 

 Channel Tunnel, the sub-Wealden Boring, and the underground dis- 

 tribution of Palaeozoic rocks in the south-east of England engaged his 

 attention. So also in questions of water-supply and of the occurrence 

 of petroleum he was a recognised authority ; and with regard to the 

 water-supply of the metropolis he gave important evidence which 

 was published by the late Royal Commission appointed to deal with 

 the question. 



Mr. Topley was Examiner in Geology to the Durham University 

 and to the Science and Art Department. He was elected a Fellow 

 of the Royal Society in 1888. 



GUSTAVE HONORE COTTEAU. 

 Born 1828. Died August 10, 1894. 



WE deeply regret to have to record the death of the oldest and 

 most respected member of the School of Systematic Echinolo- 

 gists — Gustave Honore Cotteau. Mr. Cotteau was a judge in the 

 Department of I'Yonne. In the intervals of leisure of a long and 

 busy life, he was able to study the fossil Sea Urchins, and to describe 

 probably more new species than any of his contemporaries. Fossil 

 Echinoids from all parts of the world were sent to him at 

 Auxerre to be determined and described. He took up the work of 

 Desor when the author of the great "Synopsis des Echinides fossiles" 

 passed away. For over 30 years he has been the greatest authority 

 on his group. His work has been characterised by the most 

 exemplary care ; his diagnoses are models of close and detailed 

 description. Some of the younger palaeontologists may have thought 

 he was inclined to attach more value than was necessary to trifling 

 variations, but his determinations were always accepted with 

 the most implicit faith owing to the care he bestowed upon his 

 specimens and the love he put into his work. The list of his memoirs 

 and papers is a very lengthy one, and among them it is difficult to 

 pick out any for special mention. They are all so good. He was a 

 Member of the French Institut, a Foreign Member of the Geological 

 Society, and an honorary member of numerous societies who honoured 

 themselves by honouring him. 



