192 



De. C. B. Robixsox. — It was with great regret that we learnt 

 of the murder of Dr. C, B. Eobinson, of the Bureau of Science, 

 Manila, in Amboina on December Sth, 1913, Dr, Robinson had 

 gone to Amboina in order to collect over the classic ground visited 

 by Rumphius, and to obtain as complete a collection as possible 

 of the species figured and described by Rumphius, Mr, E. D. 

 Merrill, who proceeded to Amboina immediately on hearing of 

 Dr. Robinson's death, has sent us particulars of the melancholy 

 event, and a copy of the official report of his death, and he also 

 informs us that he has recovered and taken to Manila the whole of 

 the botanical collections made in Amboina by Dr, Robinson, It 

 is a matter of no small gratification to know that his valuable 

 work has been preserved, and it is Mr, MerrilFs intention to 

 distribute the collection in two sets, one of which will consist of 

 those plants that can be definitely connected with the species 

 figured and described by Rumphius. 



From the information sent to Kew by Mr. Merrill it would 

 appear that the murder was committed largely from fear on the 

 part of the Boetonese, perhaps also for the sake of robbery. 

 Immediately after the murder had been committed, reflection 

 appears to have followed, and in order to wipe out every trace of 

 their deed the murderers threw the body into the sea without any- 

 thing having been stolen. It is possible, as suggested in the 

 official report, that Dr. Robinson was the victim of superstitions 

 fear caused among the inhabitants by his sudden and unexplained 

 appearance in the lonely spot to which he had walked un- 

 accompanied. Dr. Robinson was very popular with the natives 

 and with their children, and frequently made journeys alone, so 

 that the true cause of the murder is somewhat obscure. His death 

 caused general mourning among the population of Amboina. 



Dr. Robinson was a British subject, a citizen of Nova Scotia, 

 and for two years was in residence at Christ's College, Cambridge. 

 It was only a few years ago that he visited Kew on his way from 

 the Philippine Islands to ]N"ova Scotia. His untimely end is a 

 great loss to botanical science. 



Joseph Reynolds Gree^, F.R.S. — The death of Reynolds 

 Green on June 3rd will have come as a great shock to his many 

 friends, and not least to those who were associated with him 

 during his work at Kew. 



Green began working in the Jodrell Laboratory in the autumn 

 of 1892, and went on for some years, so far as his other engage- 

 ments allowed. Two of his most important physiological papers 

 were the outcome of this period, namely, his '' Researches on the 

 Germination of the Pollen-grain and the Nutrition of the Pollen- 

 tube,"* and his memoir on *' the Action of Light on Diastase and 

 its biological significance/'f 



Green, besides being a most competent investigator, was an 

 exceedingly pleasant man to work with, and very popular with 



* * Phil. Trans. Eoyal See. B. 184 (1894) pp. 385-409. 

 t Ibid. B. 188 (1897) pp. 167-190. 



