LINNEAN' SOCIETY OF LONDOIS". 23 



the brief period now at my disposal it would be impossible to 

 speak of tliem. 



It only remains for me to tbauk you for the kind way in which 

 you have listened to these few remarks, and to bring them to a 

 .conclusion. 



Dr. D. H. Scott then moved the following resolution, viz. : 

 " That the thanks o£ the Society be given to the President for 

 his excellent Address, and that he be requested to allow it to be 

 priuted." This, having been seconded by Mr. Howard Saunders, 

 was carried unanimously. 



The Linnean Gold Medal for the year was then awarded to 

 Prof. EE]!fST Haeckel, M.D., Ph.D., of Jena. In the absence of 

 the recipient, Mr. W. Percy Sladen received the Medal on his 

 bebalf, and read a letter from Prof. Haeckel, acknowledging the 

 ■honour done him by the Society. 



In announcing the presentation the President said: — 

 Thei^e is probably no name which is more familiar to zoologists 

 in all parts of the world, or held in higher esteem, than that of 

 Ernst Haeckel, and it is with feelings of great satisfaction and 

 especial pleasure that I have the honour of acting on your behalf, 

 and sending him the Grold Medal of our Society. 



Whether we consider the number of Professor Haeckel's con- 

 tributions to zoological science — there are at least 67 monographs 

 and separate memoirs — or the marvellous ability and clearness 

 with which he has recognized the relative values of the different 

 facts, as shown, for instance, in such works as his G-eneral 

 Morphology and many papers dealing broadly with natural science 

 — or, again, the beauty of those classical monographs in which he 

 has dealt with such difficult subjects as the various groups of 

 Medusce, forms so difficult to preserve, and yet in his able hands 

 pourtrayed with such skill that we can almost see them, as it 

 were, living once again upon his pages, moving with all that grace 

 which they display in their natural element the sea, and adorned 

 with those lively colours with which we are so familiar, — we can- 

 not but admit the importance and scientific value of his labours. 

 Again, look at the series of monographs he has given us of such 

 forms as the Hadiolaria — how difficult would it be to most men to 

 illustrate such a group, wherein we find the most perfect sym- 

 metry, only to be pourtrayed by the most complete and thorough 

 knowledge of the laws of perspective and fore-shortening. How 

 admirably has that work been carried out by Professor Haeckel ! 

 But to enumerate his various works, and the peculiar charm 

 they have for us, would be, I feel, altogether an unnecessary 

 task. Ton must all kuow full well how greatly we are 

 indebted to him for very much of our knowledge of marine 

 zoology, and for many philosophical ideas upon these and 

 other kindred subjects. I need not say more, but will simply, 



