156 Obituary. 



well-chosen remarks, which usually led to a general discussion 

 gratifying to the author and interesting to the audience. 



A man of Spitta's sanguine temperament and somewhat dominat- 

 ing personality could not avoid making some enemies in his career. 

 He was a strong and outspoken President in Committee, and 

 his ways did not please all its members. But my relations with 

 him as Secretary, during the first three years of his office, were of 

 the most cordial description ; I was always assured of his support, 

 and I am glad to think that the friendship then formed remained 

 unbroken to the end. That he was proud of his office and appre- 

 ciative of the general support which he received, is shown by the 

 dedication of his book on the Microscope to the Council and 

 Members of the Quekett Microscopical Club. Less than a year ago 

 he sent me a copy of the latest edition — "just as a reminder of all 

 past and happy times." He was very human, and certainly one of 

 the most engaging personalities I reniember in the world of 

 Microscopy. A. E. 



FEEDEEICK ANTHONY PARSONS. 



It is with very great regret we have to record the death on 

 February 7 of Frederick Anthony Parsons, in his eighty-fifth year. 



Mr. Parsons had been engaged as an Engineer's Draughtsman, 

 until he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Royal ]\Iicro- 

 scopical Society in 1896. He held this post until 1912, and 

 during that period was a familiar figure at the meetings. On 

 retiring he was nominated as a Fellow by the Council, in recog- 

 nition of his long and valued service, and presented with a 

 testimonial and an address at the meeting held June 19, 1912. 

 He was a member of the Quekett Microscopical Club for a few 

 months short of half a century, and during that time served for 

 many years as Secretary to the Excursions' Committee. It was 

 in April, 1885, on one of the Club's annual visits to the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Regent's Park, that he was fortunate in first finding 

 specimens uf the' fresh- water Hydroid Polyp, a biological discovery 

 of much importance. It was taken from the Victoria llegia tank, 

 where a few years previously had been found the Medusoid form 

 which had been described by Prof, (now Sir) E. Ray Lankester, 

 under the name Limnocodium Sowerbi/i. 



His kindliness, liis enthusiasm in microscopical matters, "the 

 thoroughness and neatness which were marked features in every- 

 thing he did, will be long remembered by all who knew him. 

 Mr. E. M. Nelson writes, " No microscopist I have ever met was 

 more ready than he to help not only in the department of pond- 

 life, but also in that of the mechanical construction of the micro- 

 scope, for he possessed a good knowledge of mechanical engineering." 



A. W. Sheppaed. 



