CLEMENT HELD 151 



enabled him to bridge over gaps and project theories, while retaining 

 an ojDen mind to modify or reject a hypothesis if subsequent evidence 

 showf^d that it was not tenable. 



He was particular!}^ clever in devising methods for overcoming 

 the difficulties always cropping up in the way of the palaeontologist, 

 and I believe that he took a positive delight in grappling with 

 obstacles which would have hindered and jDerha^JS altogether deterred 

 m^any. His enthusiasm was boundless, and there was always some- 

 thing particularly stimulating in his letters and conversation as if 

 some measure of the restless energy and tremendous driving power of 

 the man communicated itself to those around him. Though he got 

 through enough scientific work to more tlian fill an ordinary man's 

 life, Keid was never the mere " scientist " for he found time to take an 

 interest in books and in the affairs of the day. He had a large 

 outlook on life and was essential!}' a public-spirited man. 



He was modest as regards his own achievements. Although he 

 felt a natural gratification at the accomplishment of a good piece of 

 work there was no trace of vanity in his disposition. As a '• partner " 

 1 found him most helpful and generous ; more than three-quarters of 

 the work which we did together at the fossil Chai-aceae was his, yet 

 he would not consent to my taking less than an equal share of the 

 credit. 



He was one of the kindest of men, always thoughtful and con- 

 siderate for others, and no one could work with him without being 

 impressed by his absolute sincerity and singleness of purpose, and 

 feeling the better for the contact with so thorough a naturalist and so 

 courteous and true-hearted a g:entleman. 



CEITICAL NOTES ON SOME BRITANNIC SAXIFRAGES. 

 By the Rev. Edward S. Marshall, M.A., F.L.S. 



Ix his 8axifragearum Emnneraiio (1821) Ha worth divided this 

 genus into several ; among Avliich Rohertsonia is, I believe, tlie most 

 worthy of those found in our country to rank as sucli. It is, however, 

 rather too closely related to his Chondrosea (incrusted or Aizooii- 

 group) ; and 8. Andreivsii Harvey is, surely, a natural garden-cross 

 between 8. Aizoon and ^S". umhrosa (not /S*. Geum, as Engler as- 

 sumed). Hybridity may, indeed, occur between species of distinct 

 genera, as in the case of many Orchids, both wild and cultivated ; but 

 all modern writers appear to have retained tlie name Saxifraga for 

 the greater part of the Linnean genus, Megasea being a notable 

 exception. 



For a good many years I have paid special attention to our native 

 Saxifrages. Apart from aS'. Geum and S. umhrosa, where specific 

 variation is much complicated by numerous hybrids or mongrels, these 

 present no very great difficulty, until the "mossy" group (§ Dacty- 

 loides Tausch) is reached. This section, however, with the possible 

 exception of Ranunculus, § Batrachium, is the hardest of all our 

 smaller critical series to disentangle. As far as my own researches 

 are concerned, I write the following remarks with much diffidence ; 



