1888-89.] Professor Alexander Dickson. 513 



the host was recognised by his kindly interpositions to in- 

 crease the comfort and enjoyment of his guests. His delight 

 was to know that they had been gratified with the day's 

 shooting or curling, or with the ramble over hills or through 

 the woods, where some matter of botanical interest was in- 

 variably brought under notice ; their delight was the com- 

 panionship and conversation of an acute and widely-informed 

 man, genial and destitute of envy, self-denying and careful 

 to avoid wounding susceptibilities, and appreciating heartily 

 what was good in others, because desirous of doing so. 



No one could have guessed that beneath this never- 

 ceasing genial and amiable placidity and kindliness, a con- 

 sciousness existed of a physical ailment, whose course and 

 effect could not with certainty be anticipated for a day, nor 

 even for an hour. It is characteristic of the man, that he 

 courageously and considerately concealed all knowledge of 

 the existence of this " thorn in the flesh," in order to avoid 

 causing anxiety and pain to those nearest and dearest to 

 him. He succeeded in his purpose ; and when, on the 30th 

 of December 1887, he suddenly expired on the curling pond 

 at Hartree, no forebodings or anxieties had occurred to 

 increase the bitter grief of his departure. 



In concluding this record of a dear friend, I would remind 

 the Society how warmly he was attached to its interests. 

 He constantly attended its meetings, served it as President 

 and in some of its other offices, and communicated to it the 

 greater number of his botanical papers. 



Chronological List of Scientific Papers. 



On a Moastrosity in the Fruit of Silene inflata, with some Remarks 

 on Placentation. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin., v., 1857. 



On the Compound Xature of the Cormophyte. Trans. Bot. Soc. 

 Edin., vi., 1858; Edin. New Phil. Jour., 1858. 



Remarks on the Development of the Seed- Vessel of Caryophyl- 

 laceae. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin., vi., 1859. (The substance of 

 this paper forms part of tlie author's graduation thesis, " On the 

 Development of the Flower, and especially the Pistil, in the 

 Caryopkyllaceoe.") 



Observations on some Bisexual Cones occurring in the Spruce Fir 

 (Abies excelsa). Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin., vi., 1860; Edin. New 

 Piiil. Jour., 1860; Adayisonia, ii. 



