vi PREFACE 



forefront of the Geology of his time, and by the charm 

 of his genial nature, as well as by the enthusiasm of 

 his devotion to science, exercised a wide influence 

 among his contemporaries. 



To that large circle of friends who knew him in his 

 prime, and to that yet wider public which recognises 

 how much it has profited by his labours, some brief 

 record of the life of Andrew Crombie Ramsay will 

 be welcome. He was almost my earliest geological 

 friend, and for many years we were bound together by 

 the closest ties of scientific work and of unbroken 

 friendship. It has been, therefore, a true labour of 

 love to put together this little memorial of him. As 

 far as the materials at my disposal would permit, I 

 have allowed his personal experiences to be told in his 

 own words. I have tried to trace the gradual progress 

 of his development as a geologist, and to offer a short 

 summary of what seem to me to have been the 

 essential features of his contributions to his favourite 

 science. And I have sought, though I fear with but 

 imperfect success, to show something of that bright, 

 sunny spirit which endeared him to all who came 

 within its influence. 



Sir Andrew Ramsay joined the Geological Survey 

 when it was still in its infancy, and he remained on its 

 staff during the whole of his active scientific career a 

 period of forty years. So entirely did he identify 

 himself with the aims and work of the Survey, and so 



