14 Obituary Notices. [sess. u. 



shortly afterwards Mr Gray was officially removed to 

 Edinburgh, he was recognised as an authority in Scottish 

 natural science. Coming just after Dr John Alexander 

 Smith had resigned his secretaryship of the Eoyal Physical 

 Society, Mr Gray filled the vacant niche so well as to have 

 added renewed life to a Society whose meetings have all 

 along given a fruitful nurture to so many young naturalists. 

 Mr Gray, as Vice-President, delivered the closing address 

 at the conclusion of the Session of the Eoyal Society of 

 Edinburgh for 1875.. Altogether, his distinguished career 

 suggests a closer union of our Scottish natural science 

 societies, now" far more numerous than when, forty years 

 ago, the Botanical and Eoyal Physical Societies represented 

 the students of natural history. The autonomy of each 

 society might be preserved, wdiile advantages, only to be 

 given by a strong organisation, in respect of frequency and 

 illustration of publications, as well as mutual intercourse of 

 members, might be gained. If such an effort were only 

 to bring another Eobert Gray to the front, it is worth 

 attempting. 



Mr Gray, though known as a w^est country naturalist, was 

 born at Dunbar in 1825. Entering bank service imme- 

 diately after leaving school, he died in harness as cashier to 

 the Bank of Scotland, having passed through the several 

 grades of accountant, inspector, and local manager under 

 different corporations. An enthusiastic natural observer 

 when a boy, he continued so throughout his busy official life. 

 He husbanded time so well, either in the early morning or 

 after eight hours' official duties, to observe and write ; 

 thus gaining his scientific reputation, while keeping to the 

 front as a business man. 



Joining our membership in 1875, when lie occupied a house 

 in Inverlcith Eow, overlooking the Botanic Garden, Mr Gray 

 over after took a warm interest in our Society; he became a 

 Councillor, and subsequently a Vice-President. Unlike his 

 predecessor Dr John Alexander Smith, he did not com- 

 municate papers, but his presence was an influence both in 

 Council and Society meetings. Mrs Gray writes that her 

 husband was familiar with every plant in the districts of the 

 west of Scotland, explored during bye-times of bank journey- 

 ings, when pursuing his special ornithological and pakeonto- 



