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The Scottish Naturalist 



No. 51.] 1916 [March 



EDITORIAL. 



Through the death of Sir William Turner, K.C.B., LL.D., 

 Principal of Edinburgh University, which occurred on the 

 15th February, Scotland has lost one of its greatest scientific 

 teachers and leaders of thought. Born in Lancaster in 1832, 

 he came to Edinburgh as early as 1 854, as senior demonstrator 

 in anatomy in the University, and continued to reside in the 

 Scottish metropolis until the day of his decease — a period of 

 sixty-two years, during which he devoted himself untiringly 

 to the interests of Scottish students, building up a school of 

 anatomy which has contributed materially to the fame of the 

 University. Apart from his incessant work as a teacher he 

 carried on scientific investigation until the last, and soon 

 became acknowledged as an authority in many branches of 

 anatomical research. Among his many contributions to 

 science probably those dealing with the anatomy of the Cetacea 

 are of the most outstanding interest to Scottish naturalists, 

 and the magnificent collection of the remains of whales and 

 dolphins in the University Museum will form a lasting 

 monument of his zeal and industry in this direction. One 

 of the most remarkable features in his character was his 

 manysidedness ; he was keenly interested in museums and 

 in field natural histor}', and in spite of his four-score years 

 showed the keen delight of youth in the acquisition of a new 



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