Miscellaneous. 469 



or perforations on the only part of the alveolar border which appears 

 to be uninjured, leads the author to conjecture that the bird may 

 have been dentigerous. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



John Mlees, E.R.S. 



By the death of the late J. Miers, F.R.S., science has lost one of 

 the most industrious systematic botanists of the present day, and 

 one who was formerly a frequent contributor to the pages of this 

 journal. Born in London, on the 25th of August, 1789, of a York- 

 shire family, Mr. Miers, in early years, showed a marked inclina- 

 tion for scientific pursuits ; and, although mainly occupied with his 

 father in his business as a jeweller, he found time for the study of 

 the physical sciences, especially of chemistry and mineralogy. 

 Chemistry was at that period of his life his favourite study ; and he 

 undertook a series of important researches which led to the publica- 

 tion, in 1814, of two papers on the nature of azote, in Thomson's 

 ' Annals of Philosophy.' At this time he made the acquaintance of 

 Michael Earaday, and of many others who subsequently distin- 

 guished themselves in various branches of science. In 1818 he 

 married. Henceforward the whole tenour of his life was changed. 

 He accepted an invitation from his friend Lord Cochrane (after- 

 wards Earl Dundonald) to proceed to Chile, to assist in the erec- 

 tion of very extensive machinery for the reduction and manufacture 

 of copper — an undertaking in which they were jointly interested. 

 He landed at Buenos Ayres, crossed the Pampas and Cordilleras, 

 and remained in Chile for upwards of six years, during which period, 

 as he was unable to continue his chemical researches, he turned 

 his attention to the study of the natural history of the country, 

 at that time almost a terra incognita to botanists. He was as 

 yet wholly unacquainted with the elements of botany, and had no 

 books to assist him in his studies ; but he spent his leisure time 

 in making drawings and dissections of the plants that he collected 

 during his journey across the continent and in his travels in Chile. 

 His energy and enthusiasm in collecting may be estimated by the 

 fact, mentioned in his subsequently published work, that he made 

 upwards of two hundred analytical drawings of plants, illustrated 

 by descriptions, and collected materials for nearly as many more. 

 These were of the greatest assistance to him in his subsequent 

 career. On his return to England in 1825 he made the personal 

 acquaintance of both Robert Brown and Dr. Lindley, and during his 

 few months' stay arranged for the publication of his ' Travels in 

 Chile and La Plata." This work, which appeared in 182G, in two 

 volumes, illustrated with maps and engravings propared from his 

 own drawings, was long regarded as the chief authority on the 

 geography of the country, and on the manners and customs of the 

 people with which it dealt. Ou returning to Buenos Ayres he 



