OBITUARY. 



KARL SEMPER. 

 Born July 6, 1832. Died May 29, 1893. 



WE regret to have to record the death of the eminent Professor of 

 Zoology in the University of Wiirzburg. Born at Altona, 

 near Hamburg, sixty-one years ago, Karl Semper was the son of a 

 distinguished architect of that city. At an early age he entered the 

 University of Wiirzburg, devoting himself especially to the study of 

 Zoology. During the years 1859-61 he made a scientific exploration 

 of the Philippines, and in the following year pursued zoological 

 researches in the Pelew Islands. In 1864 he proceeded again to 

 Mindanao, in the Philippine Islands, and in 1866 returned to 

 Wiirzburg as Privat-docent in the University. Two years later 

 Semper became extraordinary Professor of Zoology in the same 

 University, and in 1869 ne succeeded to the ordinary chair. A new 

 Zoological-Zootomical Institute was subsequently erected, and of 

 this the Professor became director in 1872. His most important 

 work is the series of five volumes detailing the scientific results of 

 his travels in the Philippine Islands, published in instalments between 

 1867 and 1886, partly in co-operation with other zoologists in special 

 departments. In 1877 the Professor was invited to deliver a course 

 of lectures at the Lowell Institute, Boston, and on this was based 

 the work by which he is best known to readers in this country, " The 

 Natural Conditions of Existence as they affect Animal Life." Apart 

 from his own researches, Professor Semper made great contributions 

 to the progress of Zoology by directing the work of his pupils into 

 profitable channels ; and the series of volumes of " Arbeiten," 

 published by the Zool.-zootomical Institute of Wiirzburg, is filled 

 with scientific results of great value. 



THE death is also announced of Carl Friedrich Nyman, of Stock- 

 holm, author of the well-known Conspectus Flora: Euvopece ; of 

 Henry Eliason Seaton, the young and promising Assistant Curator 

 of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University ; and of William Reid, 

 of Nairn, a keen observer in ornithology and ichthyology, to whom 

 many authors own much indebtedness. 



