62 THE LATE DR. LANKESTER. 
scientific research ; it does not therefore follow that he would 
have been employed more usefully for mankind than he was in 
the unostentatious task of popularising science. The work 
of diffusing knowledge has to be done, and rightly appeared 
to the leaders of the ‘‘ useful knowledge ” school—sometimes 
now spoken of with unmerited contempt—as of national or 
more than national importance. It was certainly done by Dr. 
Lankester with zeal and success. His wide popular sym- 
pathies made him intolerant of anything like scientific exclu- 
siveness, and his genial disposition made him always a 
welcome teacher, especially to the young. Wherever he 
went he was actively engaged in awakening an interest in 
natural science, and he adopted, with characteristic enthu- 
siasm, the then novel appliances of fern-cases, aquaria, and 
other aids to the study of natural history, which have since 
proved by no means unimportant instruments both in 
popular education and in scientific research. As a popular 
lecturer he was very successful, being fortunate in a singu- 
larly pleasant voice and a happy gift of natural eloquence. 
Many now living can look back to Dr. Lankester’s teachings 
as among their first encour agements to the study of nature, 
and among these it may be not unbecoming to mention his 
eldest son, now one of the editors of this Journal, whom he 
early imbued with his own love for natural objects, in whose 
intellectual development he was most deeply interested, and 
who perpetuates in a more instructed generation the scientific 
zeal of his father. Whatever he has achieved may be fairly 
set down as due to the teaching and example of Dr. Edwin 
Lankester. 
J: JP hee 
