Vll 



work, but each attempt resulted in a relapse, and at the close of the 

 academic session, towards the end of October, it was thought best for 

 him to try the effects of a complete change. Accompanied by his 

 sister, who had joined him and his three boys in Dunedin shortly after 

 the death of his wife, he started on a visit to his friend, Mr. Bell, of 

 Shag Valley, about forty miles from Dunedin. But halfway there he 

 was so prostrated that the continuation of the journey had to be post- 

 poned, and a week later it was decided to return to Dunedin by easy 

 stages. After a night's rest at Warrington, he seemed to be better, but 

 the same night he began gradually to sink, and died a few days later 

 on November 7, 1897. He was buried at Warrington, and a number of 

 his Dunedin friends accompanied him to the grave. His unexpected 

 death, at the age of 47, is a severe loss to biological science in the Anti- 

 podes, where he was one of its foremost pioneers. 



G. B. H. 



PERCIVAL FROST was born at Kingston-upon-Hull on September 

 1, 1817. He was the second son of Mr. Charles Frost, F.S.A., who- 

 practised as a solicitor in that town. Percival Frost's earlier school- 

 life was spent at Beverley. From Beverley he was removed in the year 

 1833 to Oakham School, which was then presided over by Dr. Don- 

 caster, and here he remained until October, 1835, when he proceeded 

 to St. John's College, Cambridge. 



As an undergraduate, Frost devoted most of his energies to the 

 study of mathematics. The competition which Frost met with at St. 

 John's College is sufficiently apparent from the fact that in his year, 

 1839, the first four places in the Mathematical Tripos were won by men 

 of his own college ; a unique example of one college obtaining the first 

 four places in that Tripos. Frost's chief rival was B. M. Cowie, the 

 present Dean of Exeter. In the Mathematical Tripos, in January, 

 1839, Cowie was Senior Wrangler, and Frost was Second Wrangler; 

 but immediately afterwards this order was reversed by the examiners 

 for the Smith's Prizes. Both were elected to fellowships in their 

 College on the same day, 18th March, 1839. 



After his degree, Frost was urged by friends, and especially by Dr. 

 Hymers, his college tutor, to read for the Bar, and he commenced 

 to do so; but his great success in obtaining private pupils when 

 he returned to Cambridge for the Long Vacation, induced him to 

 abandon all idea of the legal profession. In 1841 Frost was 

 ordained by the Bishop of Ely, and in the same year vacated his 

 fellowship on his marriage with Jennett Louise, daughter of Mr. 

 Dixon, of Oak Lodge, Finchley, the commencement of a happy union 

 which lasted 57 years. Frost held a mathematical lectureship in Jesus 

 College from 1847 to 1859, and one in King's College from 1859 to 

 1889 ; but his chief work consisted in the tuition of private pupils. 



