OBITUARY. 



KARL AUGUST LOSSEN. 

 Died February 24, 1893. 



SCIENCE has sustained a severe loss in the death, on February 

 24, of Dr. Karl August Lessen, Professor of Geology at the 

 School of Mines and at the University of Berlin, and chief Geologist 

 of the Prussian Survey. 



Dr. Lossen was an enthusiastic field geologist and an able 

 petrologist. Most of his work was done in the Hartz, and his well- 

 known map of that district is remarkable both for its accuracy and 

 for the minuteness of the detail. He was one of the first to establish 

 the immense importance of dynamic agencies in modifying the 

 structure and composition of both igneous and sedimentary rocks, 

 and he clearly recognised that the principles which he had established 

 by detailed work in his own area were applicable to all parts of the 

 Hercynian range in its course through Europe, from the West of 

 England to the Sudetes. His early papers will be found in the 

 Zeitschift der deutschen geologischen Gesellschaft, between the years 1864 

 and 1880. His later and, in some respects, most important work was 

 published in the Jahrhiich dev koniglich preussichen geologischen Lan- 

 desanstalt, and in the detailed memoirs on the separate sheets issued 

 by the Prussian Geological Survey (i : 25,000). 



The great importance of his work has failed to attract the general 

 attention which it deserves in consequence of his extremely involved 

 literary style — a style which was probably due in part to his unfortu- 

 nate deafness. All those who had the good fortune to meet him 

 speak with enthusiasm of his charming personal character, and of 

 his extreme readiness to communicate any information which he 

 possessed. He was a Foreign Correspondent of the Geological 

 Society of London. 



WE have also to announce the death of Professor SchaafFhausen, 

 of Bonn, whose name was prominently before the scientific 

 world some thirty years ago in connection with the famous Neander- 

 thal Skull. In 1880 he visited this country, bringing with him the 

 original skull, which he exhibited and described at the Swansea 

 meeting of the British Association. He was born in 1816. 



