iO ŒUVRE SCIENTIFIQUE 



les regrets que cause la disparition d'un des plus éminents explorateurs 

 de ce domaine scientifique. 



Voici en quels termes s'exprime un malacologiste anglais des plus dis- 

 tingués, M. le Rev. A. -H. Cooke, dans le dernier fascicule de The Journal 

 of Malacology : 



« The scientific vvorld in gênerai, and malacologists in particular, will 

 hâve learned with profound regret the news of the death of M. Joseph- 

 Cjharles-Hippolyte Crosse, which took place on August 7, 1898, at liis 

 coiintry résidence, the Château d'Argeville, at Vernon, near Paris. No 

 man otliis time has done more, few hâve done as much, to promote the 

 study of the Mollusca, and in him France has lost one of lier most distin- 

 guished men of science 



« It is with the Journal of Conchyliologie that (^rosse's memory will he 

 for ever associated, His name lirst appears on the titlepage of that perio- 

 dical in 1861, and it is not too much to say that to him and his distinguis- 

 hed colleagLie, D'' P. Fischer, who, considerably the younger man, prede- 

 ceased him by nearly half a décade, is due the entire crédit of carrying on 

 for more than thirty years a publication which has consistently maintened 

 the highest standard of excellence in the articles which bave appeared in 

 its pages 



« Crosse's knowledge of the Mollusca was not confined to any spécial 

 group or groups, but was far-reaching and comprehensive. Naturally, his 

 acquaintance with anatomical détails was subordinate to his familiarity 

 with other portions of the study. The Land Mollusca of New Caledonia 

 and of Mexico are perhaps the two fields on which he will be found to 

 hâve left the most permanent traces of his ability,.... 



« He was especially fond of cataloguing the MoUuscan fauna of islands, 

 Some of his lists, thus compiled, are invaluable to the student of geogra- 

 phical distribution, remarks upon which generally accompanied the 

 lists 



« I believe Crosse possessed a spécial sympathy for England and En- 

 glish workers. Certainly his encouragement of young contributors was 

 charming, and his courtesy never failed. His knowledge of English was 

 remarkable, and he was capable of translating articles from that language 

 into French without missing the smallest point orlosing the most délicate 

 shade of meaning. Besides possessing numerous other titles of honour, 

 he was a Corresponding Member'of the Zoological Society of London, and 

 a Member of the Malacological Society of London. AU English malacolo- 

 gists will unité in a respectful testimony to his great distinctions. And 

 perhaps not better épilogue could be framed for him than the words with 

 which he closed his own exhaustive treatise on the Mollusca of New Cale- 

 donia, words of characteristic modesty : « Nous terminons ici notre tra- 

 ct vail, dont nous ne nous dissimulons nullement les imperfections, mais 



