66 rEOCEEDINOS OF THE 



but his other numerous contributions to science were usually in 

 the form of papers, our own Society being one of the media 

 of publication. He spent the previous winter in the south of 

 Europe in the hope of recruiting his health, enfeebled by inces- 

 sant and unsparing exertion ; but he returned iu a sinking state 

 to England oiiiv a few days before his death, which took place on 

 June IGth, 1881, in his 52ad year. [For a fuller notice see 

 Eoyal Society Proceedings, vol. xxxiii. (1882) pp. xxiv-xxvii.] 



David EuTHERroKD was born in Eifeshire in 1812 ; and up to 

 1871 was engaged in business as a bookseller in Edinburgh and 

 London ; but from an early period he was greatly attached to the 

 study of natural history. In the year named (1871) he w^ent out 

 to the west coast of Africa as clerk to a trading firm. Two years 

 later he gave up his situation and devoted his entire attention to 

 entomology, at intervals sending home his collections. In 1875 

 he came home, with the best of his collections ; but the vessel 

 w^as wrecked and all his cases lost. After his return he was in 

 the employ of a City firm till March 1879, when he again set out 

 for the west coast. Collections were again received from him, 

 but somewhat more sca-nty than during the iirst visit. His move- 

 ments up to 1881 are not easily traced ; but in March of that year 

 he had found his way to the Baptist Mission Station of Eev. D. 

 Euller, from w-hom the account of his last days is derived. He 

 went from this station up country, away from all white men ; and 

 at some two days' journey away he sickened, and died of dysentery 

 at the age of 39. His body was brought down to the Missionary 

 settlement and buried there. His collections safely reached 

 England ; but I am not aware if they were of great extent or 

 value. 



Matthias Jacob Schleiden was born on the 5th April 1804, 

 at Hamburg, where he received his early education. In 182-1 

 he betook himself to Heidelberg to study law% remaining there 

 for three years. In 1833 he proceeded to Gottingen, to take 

 up the study of medicine ; and whilst there he attended Bart- 

 ling's lectures on botany. Shortly after this, Schleiden went to 

 his uncle. Professor Norkel, at Berlin, there to carry on his 

 botanical studies by particularly devoting his attention to the 

 anatomy and physiology of plants. From this period, namely 

 1837, Schleiden's activity in publication dated. 



Two years later Schleiden was appointed Extraordinary Pro- 

 fessor of Botany at Jena, at which place he busied himself with 

 the preparation of his elaborated work ' Grundziige der wissen- 

 schaftliche Botanik.' In 1813 the diploma of Doctor medicinae 

 honoris causa was accorded to him by the Medical Faculty of 

 Tiibingen ; and in 1841! he was elected a Foreign Member of our 

 Society. Having previously declined an invitation to fill the 

 Chair of Botany at Giessen, he w^as appointed Director of the 



