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Zoophytes ; he has done more than any other Naturalist to deter- 

 mine the boundaries of the group oiPolyzoa (Bryozoa), under which 

 these organisms detached by common consent from the true Zoo- 

 phytes are now ranked ; and by showing their very close relation- 

 ship to the Compound Ascidians, he has established their title to 

 rank in the Molluscous series. 



The True Zoophytes have also received much of his attention ; 

 and his Monographs of various recent types of these, with his great 

 work on the Fossil Corals of Great Britain, executed by him (with 

 the assistance of his friend and pupil, M. Jules Haime *) for the 

 Palseontographical Society, testify to the ability and success with 

 which he has studied them. 



Even in this imperfect sketch, it would be wrong to pass by Pro- 

 fessor Milne-Edwards' s admirable Memoirs on various members of 

 the class Acalephee, which are unsurpassed for their accuracy of 

 anatomical detail and their justness of physiological deduction. 



Whilst pursuing these laborious trains of original research, Pro- 

 fessor Milne-Edwards has also been extensively engaged in the ho- 

 nourable work of Public Instruction ; and both by his lectures and 

 his writings he has applied himself to the diffusion of a sound taste 

 for science through the community. And in whatever path he has 

 followed, he has been distinguished by the same single-minded love 

 of truth, and disregard of all selfish and personal considerations, as 

 have pre-eminently characterized his scientific labours. 



PROFESSOR MILNE-EDWARDS, 



Accept this Medal, the highest reward in our power to bestow, in 

 token of our just appreciation of the labours of a life devoted to 

 Natural Science, and distinguished by original views. 



The Rumford Medal has been awarded to M. Pasteur for his dis- 

 covery of the nature of racemic acid, and its relations to polarized 

 light. 



Chemists had long been acquainted with a peculiar acid, racemic, 

 or paratartaric acid, which had the same composition as tartaric acid, 



* M. Haime's recent death will be deeply lamented by all who were acquainted 

 with the high promise of future distinction which he had already given. 



