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investigator in three distinct sciences ; in geology, by bis early work 

 on zonal distribution of the fossils on the Yorkshire coast, and again 

 by his investigations of the Foraminifera of marine deposits ; in 

 zoology, by his researches on the development of the teeth and bones, 

 not to mention his work on recent Foraminifera and Rotifera ; in 

 botany, by his elucidation of the structure of fossil plants. It would 

 be difficult to find another example from our own time of equally 

 varied and successful scientific activity. 



His ability was recognised by competent men of science from his 

 early youth upwards, and daring all the earlier part of his career his 

 work was of an advanced type, and up to the best standard of the 

 day. At a later period, especially during his investigations of the 

 Carboniferous Flora, this was no longer the case in an equal degree. 

 Owing chiefly, perhaps, to his want of knowledge of German, his later 

 publications suffered somewhat from his insufficient familiarity with 

 the results of modern botanical work, and with the consequent tech- 

 nical expressions. This makes some of his writings hard to follow, 

 and has led to their being estimated below their true value by some 

 botanists of a more modern school, who have sometimes failed to 

 appreciate discoveries, however important, unless recorded in the 

 current vernacular of modern science. Those, however, who take the 

 trouble to surmount this initial difficulty, will always be astonished at 

 the wealth of observation which his work contains, and at the sound 

 judgment which he brought to bear on his discoveries. 



After his retirement from official duties in 1892, Williamson spent 

 the last three years of his life near London in peaceful devotion to 

 his favourite studies, continuing his scientific researches to the last. 

 His death took place at his house at Clapham Common, on June 23, 

 1895, at the age of 78. 



His unique collection of slides, illustrating the microscopical struc- 

 ture of fossil plants, has happily been acquired by the British 

 Museum (Natural History Department). 



Williamson received various marks of public recognition during 

 his long career. A Royal medal was awarded to him in 1874 for his 

 researches on fossil plants, at a time when he had only published six 

 out of his nineteen memoirs in the 'Philosophical Transactions'; in 

 1890 he received the Wollaston medal of the Geological Society ; he 

 was a foreign member of the Gottingen Academy of Sciences, and of 

 the Royal Society of Sweden ; in 1883, the University of Edinburgh 

 conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. 



D. H. S. 



Admiral Sir GEORGE HENRY RICHARDS, K.C.B. This officer, the 

 son of Captain G. S. Richards, R.N., was born in 1820, and entered 

 the Royal Navy, on board the " Rhadamaiithus," in 1833, and served 



