EDWARD FORBES. 2OI 



of Palaeontologist to the Geological Survey, whereby he 

 was enabled to resign the curatorship of the Geological 

 Society. He found himself now in a much more con- 

 genial sphere. His connection with the Geological 

 Society had strengthened his early fondness for geology. 

 He now had the opportunity indeed it was now his 

 duty to enter fully into the study of palaeontology, 

 one of the great charms of which is that, though essen- 

 tially a part of zoology, it can hardly be successfully 

 approached save through the avenue of geology, while, 

 in one of its subordinate aspects, it really forms a 

 department of geological science. Besides, Forbes had 

 always had a special interest in all questions affecting 

 the ' distribution ' of animals, and there is no department 

 of natural history more fruitful in problems of this kind 

 than palaeontology. 



The remainder of Forbes's too short life may be told 

 in a very few words. The next few years were spent in 

 constant work of all kinds dredging, geologising, palae- 

 ontologising (to coin a much-needed word), lecturing, and 

 above all, writing incessantly. His personal relations with 

 his colleagues on the Geological Survey were of the happiest 

 kind. His reputation in scientific circles was of the 

 highest. His work was, much of it, thoroughly congenial. 

 He had little to complain of beyond the fact that, in 

 accordance with the traditional treatment of science and 

 of higher learning generally in Britain, he was greatly 

 overdriven, and was so ill paid that he was compelled to 

 do hack-work of various kinds in order to exist. The 

 primary result of this short-sighted policy was that one of 

 the finest and most original minds Britain has produced in 



