188 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



(LL.D.) from McGill University, Montreal in 1881 for his distinguished 

 services in the field of geology, and was President of the Natural His- 

 tory Society of Montreal in the days when the* Canadian Survey was 

 located in that city. 



In preparing this account of the life and work of our late lamented 

 " chief " the writer desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. Henry 

 Woodward, F.E.S., etc. for his able article on Dr. Selwyn, published in 

 the February number of the Geological Magazine for 1899 as one of the 

 series of original articles on " Eminent Living Geologists." He quoted 

 largely from this source; also from the list of publications issued by 

 the Royal Societies of England and Canada, and from IST. H. Barton's 

 valuable " Index " of publications on geology of North America, and to 

 Monsieur Michel Mourlon's " Bibliographia Geologica." 



In the office Selwyn was a strict disciplinarian. He loved order 

 and system as well as couirtesy, and expected from the men under him 

 the deference due to superior officers, such as is the custom in the old 

 world. Brevity and neatness, seemed to be two of his leading 

 characteristics, and in the maps, reports and work that he received 

 from the staff he expected the same. The more stern and official side 

 of his nature was in marked contrast with the sociable, amiable and 

 chivalrous side which characterized him in his own home, in private 

 and in public gatherings, where he always shone and appeared to 

 special advantage. 



He was tall and graceful, quick and alert, of a rather high strung 

 and nervous disposition, with a keen and observant eye, capable of 

 grasping the situation at a glance in any emergency. He was econ- 

 omical in his habits; whilst he was not one of those who bestowed 

 many encomiums, nevertheless he duly appreciated work of a high order. 



Selwyn was an English scholar of rare ability. His writings, 

 both public and private, are masterpieces of English composition, and 

 the timie and care that he bestowed upon the various reports sent in 

 for publication added much to their value and elegance whilst it added 

 much to his lahours also, which task might well have been entrusted 

 to an editorial staff had the appropriations allowed. ; 



Amongst his chief works may be mentioned : — " The Dominion 

 and Newfoundland," being Part II of Edward Stanford's " Com- 

 pendium of Geography and Travel," a work after Hellwald's " Die Erde 

 und ihre Volker," published in 1883 ; " Descriptive Sketch of Geography 

 and Geology of the Dominion of Canada to accompany the Wall Map 

 of the Geology of Canada," No. 411, in 1884; Notes and Observations 

 in the Gold Eields of Quebec and Nova Scotia; Eeport of Progress, 

 Geological Survey of Canada, 1870-71, Montreal, 1872, 



