436 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



■ a collector, soon attracted the notice of the officers of the 

 Geological Survey, and when it was in contemplation to enlarge 

 the staff of that body, in 1867, Bennie was eventually prevailed 

 upon to join the Survey as a fossil collector — a post which he 

 held until he left the service, a short time before his death. 



While on the Survey he collected a very large number of 

 specimens, chiefly of fossils — though his Survey duties re- 

 quired also that he should devote his attention, at times, to 

 the less congenial task of collecting rock specimens. The 

 extent of these collections can only be fully realised by those 

 who, like the present writer, have had Bennie's collections 

 through their hands. In the course of his official work, he, 

 directly or indirectly, contributed much to the advancement 

 of geological science, and, of course, especially so in connec- 

 tion with fossils. 



Mr Bennie's chief work, for a long time before his retire- 

 ment from official service, consisted in searching both ancient 

 and modern sediments for minute traces of life. Year after 

 year, those who knew Bennie would commonly find him 

 plodding to or from some newly-exposed section, from which 

 organic remains were to be obtained. His bags, on these 

 occasions, were usually very full, and his general aspect 

 suggested long contact with mother earth. "When not 

 engaged in collecting, he would generally be found plod- 

 ding, with equal patience and industry, at the washing and 

 general preparation of his gatherings; or going over them 

 afterwards, with a lens in one hand and a mounted bristle 

 in the other, picking out micro-organisms from the material 

 spread out upon an old slate. Large quantities of material 

 for other workers were sorted out in this way, and many a 

 scientific worker is indebted to James Bennie for help that 

 would, but for his exertions, have been almost impossible to 

 obtain. In addition to this he left much unused material, 

 which still awaits examination. 



In 1875 Mr Bennie joined the Eoyal Physical Society, and 

 he remained, up to almost the time of his last illness, one 

 of the most regular attendants at the Society's meetings, and 

 one of its staunchest supporters, not only by his presence 

 and his literary contributions, but by his subscription. To 



