248 OBITUARIES [maech 



adequate status in the University of Aberdeen, being placed on an equality 

 with the other natural sciences. 



The teaching of geology now required provision for elementary and advanced 

 work, both theoretical and practical, and Professor Nicholson applied himself 

 with much zeal and success to securing the necessary equipment. The classes 

 were greatly appreciated by the students, a fact that gave him much pleasure. 

 He was relieved of the work of teaching zoology, except for the lectures in 

 summer, his assistant, Dr. Alexander Brown, being appointed by the University 

 Court lecturer in zoology, with the charge of the rest of the instruction in that 

 department. 



As a teacher Professor Nicholson was singularly successful. An adept in 

 the sciences which he taught, he was not content to rest upon his stores of 

 knowledge, but made it his practice to revise immediately beforehand the 

 subject on which he was to speak. Possessed of natui'al fluency, and knowing 

 clearly what he wished to communicate to his hearers, he secured their interest 

 and admiration. He excelled as a draughtsman with chalks, and his lectures 

 gained much by his free use of the blackboard. His success as a teacher was 

 largely aided also by personal qualities, a keen but always kindly sense of 

 humour and great geniality of temper, that won for him the love of his 

 students and colleagues, and has made his death to be felt as that of a friend. 



Dr. Nicholson was by preference a palaeontologist, and he did much original 

 research in this field, the results of which have chiefly appeared in numerous 

 lengthy and valuable contributions to the publications of scientific societies. 

 Among these, which commenced with papers on Graptolites in 1866 and 1867, 

 may be named particularly his "Monograph on the British Graptolitidae" 

 (1872) ; "Reports on the Palaeontology of the Province of Ontario" (1874-75), 

 published by the government of Ontario ; " Monograph of the Silurian Fossils 

 of Girvan, Ayrshire" (1878); "The Structure and Affinities of the Tabulate 

 Corals of the Palaeozoic Period" (1879); and "Structure and Affinities of 

 Monticulipora " (1881). As indicating the extent of his labours, we find in the 

 Royal Society's "Catalogue of Scientific Papers" that up to 1883 he is named 

 as sole author of seventy-five papers and as joint author of nineteen others. 

 These numbers have since been considerably increased. 



He was perhaps better known to students as the author of highly valued 

 manuals and text-books on zoology and on palaeontology. The "Manual of 

 Palaeontology," by Professor Nicholson and Dr. Lyddeker, reached its third 

 edition in two large volumes in 1890, and has received very wide recognition. 

 He also contributed zoological articles to the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," and 

 was the author of a more popular work entitled " Natural History, its Rise and 

 Progress in Britain." 



In 1877, and again in 1890, he was appointed Swiney Lecturer in the 

 British Museum, and in that capacity he delivered lectures on geology and 

 palaeontology to large audiences with great acceptance. 



During the past six years his health had not been good. Though not un- 

 fitted for the duties of his office he suffered from frequent attacks of influenza, 

 with complications, which at the beginning of the present winter took the form 

 of gastralgia. After a short period of severer illness he died on the 19th 

 January. 



He has left a widow, two daughters, and three sons. His sons have already 

 gained distinction in their several paths. J. W. H. Trail. 



WILLIAM COLENSO. 



Born, 1811; Died, February 10, 1899. 



The Rev. William Colenso was born at Penzance. He started in life as a 

 printer and bookbinder in the office of Watts and Son, London, where he was 



