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history were simultaneously sedulously cultivated by him. He 

 became an authority on the birds of India, he wrote upon the various 

 jungle products, he devoted much attention to anthropology ; see, for 

 example, his study of the Songhal and other native races. He 

 recorded their racial peculiarities, and discussed their affinities, he 

 made himself acquainted with their languages ; paper after paper 

 flowed from his ready pen, describing well and describing accurately 

 aspects of our Indian Empire which but few, indeed, have had both 

 the opportunity of observing and the capacity of recording. Steadily 

 the reputation of the Indian geologist advanced in scientific circles. 

 He was elected a fellow of the Calcutta University in 1872. He 

 devoted a short vacation to extending his travels to the Andaman and 

 Nicobar Islands, and there noted what seemed interesting and novel, 

 and at every opportunity he was increasing the collection of objects 

 \vhich illustrated hie studies in anthropology and natural history. 

 His first important volume, ' Jungle Life in India,' gives a record of 

 his travels and summarises the results of his multitudinous papers. 

 This work was followed by an elaborate treatise on the economic 

 geology of India. His fame had by this time become so firmly 

 established that on the resignation of the Chair of Geology in the 

 University of Dublin by Rev. Dr. Haughton, Valentine Ball was 

 appointed his successor. Thus was brought to a close his connexion 

 of seventeen years with the Geological Survey of India. Summoned 

 thus to a post of dignity and influence as a Professor in his own 

 University in his native city, Ball threw himself with characteristic 

 ardour into the discharge of his new duties. He attracted around him 

 at the outset a band of diligent students, and in 1882 became a fellow 

 of the Royal Society. The Professor's intimate acquaintance with 

 Indian geology led to his being frequently consulted by the Indian 

 Government on various scientific or economic questions. He was, 

 indeed, on one occasion requested to visit and report upon the 

 Burmese ruby mines, but he had to decline on account of his other 

 duties. Much of his knowledge on the practical aspect of Indian 

 geology was published in his book on the ' Diamonds and Gold of 

 India.' His valuable services were recognised by the Indian Govern- 

 ment, and they awarded him a special pension, notwithstanding 

 that his residence in India fell short by several years of what would 

 ordinarily have entitled him to such a privilege. But the time was 

 approaching when he was to be called to the important position in 

 which his chief life-work was to be accomplished. In September, 

 1883, Ball was appointed to the post of Director of the new Science 

 and Art Museum about to be established in Dublin. He accordingly 

 surrendered his professorship of geology and mineralogy in the 

 University of Dublin after only two years' tenure. He has placed on 

 record that the reason for accepting the directorship and relinquish- 



