XT!SrjJE.iN SOCIETY OF LOXDOX. 49 



€o;ue novel views upon the significance of the apical plates of the 

 Astrophiurids, it is clear that to his influence was largely due the 

 superb work on the development of these, which has long ago 

 placed Bur)- in the front rank of embryological investigators. 

 Other organs with which he dealt in detail are the perignathic 

 -g-irdle, which he investigated conjointly with his old friend Duncan. 



Sladen's magnum opus was the ' Challenger ' volume on the 

 Asteroids, which runs to 900 pages, and is accompanied by an 

 atlas of 118 plates. Having prepared the way for this by the 

 issue of reports on the collections made in the Arctic Regions in 

 1875-76, on those of the ' Alert,' ' Knight Errant,' and ' Triton/ 

 •and on others made in the Faroe Channel, the Korean Sea, and the 

 Mergui Archipelago, Sladen came manfully and amply prepared to 

 the colossal task in hand, and with what success he carried it 

 through the world of zoologists no longer need to be reminded ; 

 suffice it to say, that his genera, families, and greater groups have 

 aiow been generally accepted, and adopted in the modern text-books 

 of Gregory and Lang. This great work was largely written in 

 the hours of the night, often after an arduous day's labour ; and 

 there is reason to think that the strain thus endured maj- have 

 exercised an enfeebling influence upon the author's constitution. 

 "Whether so or not, Sladen, however, some ten years ago suffered a 

 very bad attack of influenza, which, followed at intervals by 

 recurrent visitations of the disorder, unfitted him for work. Again 

 and again did he raise hope of returning to his scientific labours, 

 but in vain. He passed the winter of 1899 in Devonshire with 

 beneficial results, and became so far restored to health that he 

 thereupon journeyed to Rome, and there stayed six weeks, going on 

 to Florence, where, after a short stay, he Avas on June 11th, 1900, 

 suddenly and unexpectedly taken with a fainting-fit, within half 

 an hour of which he died. 



Among his scientific effects are a large librarj', containing a 

 unique collection of works upon the Echiuodermata. He also left 

 a grand series of old books, a collection of ancient M8S. and examples 

 ■of early printing being among his chief delights. He also leaves 

 a,n extensive collection of Echinoderms, which includes the Crinoids 

 formerly the property of his friend the late P. H. Carpenter, and 

 he acquired the materials which formed the basis of the elder 

 Carpenter's book \ipon the Microscope. 



But little more than two years before his death Sladen became 

 possessed of a considerable fortune and the estate of an uncle at 

 Xorthbrook, near Exeter ; and among his many generous acts it 

 will be remembered that he gave the sum of £2000 to effect the 

 insurance of the lives of the Yeomanry and Volunteers of his county 

 going to the front in the Boer Campaign. 



He was a true friend, and no man ever possessed a stricter sense 

 of honour. He has passed from us, and while the recollection of 

 his inspiring presence within the walls of the Society's apart- 

 ments will live as long as the present generation of its Fellows 

 endures, his published work and recorded example will remain to 



LINN. SOC. PROCEEDINGS. — SESSION 1900-1901. C 



