March 3, 1S87] 



NA rURE 



419 



pushed these researches to such successful issues belongs 



chiefly to the chemists, mineralogists, and geologists of 



France. To the labours of Senarmont, Uaubrce, and a 



host of other workers, we owe the artificial production of 



a very large number of the minerals of our globe ; while 



L the ingenious experiments of Fouqud and Michel Levy 



S have resulted in the formation of many rocks differing in 



, no essential particulars from those which have been pro- 



' duced by natural agencies. 



In the prosecution of his various researches the import- 

 ance and value of exact mineralogical knowledge to the 

 geologist is beco.ning every day more apparent. The 

 temporary estrangement between the cultivators of 

 mineralogy and geology is now, we may hope, for ever 

 at an end ; very heartily, indeed, do geologists recognise 

 and welcome the aid of their brethren the mineralogists. 



liutifit be confessed that the benetits, past and pro- 

 spective, conferred on geological science by mineralogy 

 are vast and even incalculable, it must also be admitted 

 that the debt is amply repaid by the beneficial influence 

 which is being exercised in turn upon mineralogy by 

 geology. 



Some time ago a distinguished mineralogist asked me 

 if I did not find the ordinary text-books of his science 

 but little calculated to arouse the interest or excite the 

 enthusiasm of students. I am sure that the energy of my 

 assent must at least have assured my friend of the 

 strength of my convictions on the subject. 



Too long, indeed, has the accumulated mass of mineral 

 lore recalled the grim vision of the seer of Chebar. In 

 that gruesome valley the wail of the student, " the bones 

 are very dry," has mingled with the sigh of the teacher, 

 " Can these bones live?" But now from the four winds 

 of heaven come the constructive ideas of many minds — 

 from Scandinavia and from France, from Germany and 

 from the United .States — and in obedience to this influ- 

 ence behold " a great shaking " in the formless mass. 

 Scattered facts, isolated observations, imperfect general- 

 isations, and tentative hypotheses are falling together 

 " bone to his bone," and are building up a sound body of 

 mineralogical knowledge ; and into this the spirit of 

 geological thought entering, mineralogy shall stand forth 

 a living science. 



DR. WILLIAM TRAILL, OF WOODWICK^ 

 'T^HE death of this assiduous student of natural history 

 •*■ merits more than a passing notice, since there are 

 few surgeons who did more for the advancement of Eastern 

 conchology than he ; while his researches on the antiqui- 

 ties of his native county (Orkney) also claim attention. 

 His whole career, indeed, as in the case of many an 

 Eastern surgeon, illustr..tes the wisdom of placing both 

 natural history and botany on the curriculum of every 

 medical student. 



Dr. Traill was the eldest son of Mr. Traill, of Westness, 

 Rousay, Orkney, and he was born in Kirkwall on Septem- 

 ber S, 1818. He proceeded to the University of Edinburgh 

 to study medicine at the age of sixteen, and while there he 

 had the advantage of the direction and advice of his 

 uncle, the late Prof. Traill, who held the Chair of Medical 

 Jurisprudence. Young Traill proved an apt student, and 

 showed from the first a strong liking for natural history. 

 This was fostered by his uncle (whose collection of snakes, 

 now in the Museum of Science and Art, was well known 

 to naturalists), as well as by his pursuits during the holidays 

 at the family seat at Westness, in the Island of Rousay. 

 Amongst his fellow-students were Dr. Cleghorn, of 

 Stranthie, late Conservator of Forests in India, Sir 

 Lyon HIayfair, and Dr. Halliday Douglas. 



After graduating in 1 84 1, he proceeded to India as a 

 surgeon in the East India Company's service. The 



' Abitracl of Paper read at the Literarj- and Philosophical Society, St. 

 Andrews, January 21. 1887. 



splendid field thus opened up to the young naturalist 

 stirred all his energies into activity, and he studied and 

 collected various groups, but especially the land-shells of 

 Madras. His early studies on the shores of Orkney had 

 given him a predilection for this department, and he re- 

 mained faithful to it throughout life. Thus, when shortly 

 afterwards called to serve in China, he began the collec- 

 tion of those beautiful specimens of Eastern shells now 

 so well known in many collections. His opportunities 

 were further extended by a residence of some years at 

 Singapore, and afterwards at Malacca and other stations. 

 He returned to England in 1854, and his collections were 

 much admired, both as regards the beauty of the speci- 

 mens and the number of examples of each species. His 

 acquaintance w'ith Dr. Knapp, a retired army surgeon, 

 and also well known as a malacologist, gave a great 

 impetus to his studies, as also did his association with 

 Andrew Murray, Robert Gray, Dr. Howden, Wyville 

 Thomson, Foster Heddle, James Cunningham, Patrick 

 Dalnahoy, and R. Greville. 



His return-voyage to India in 1856 gave him an oppor- 

 tunity of examining the pteropo;ls and other pelagic mol- 

 luiks, and his observations, with four plates and a chart, 

 were communicated by Sir Walter Elliott to the Madras 

 Journal, then edited by his friend Dr. Cleghorn. His 

 preparations of the delicate glassy shells of the Theco- 

 somatous forms w-as remarkable. He also described some 

 rare species, observed certain peculiarities in their struc- 

 ture, and made comparisons between the velum of the 

 young Cyprrea and the epipodia of the pteropods. His 

 collection of Eastern mollusks was largely increased during 

 his second period of duty, so that it became celebrated 

 for certain rare types, such as Rosicllaria rectirostris, 

 Trochus giiilfordii, Trochus imperialis, &c. He also 

 added largely to Prof Traill's collection of snakes formerly 

 alluded to. 



On retiring from active duty he settled at St. Andrews, 

 and at once took an active interest in the University 

 Museum and Literary and Philosophical Society, of which 

 latter he was a Vice-President at his death. He spent 

 much of his time in arranging the Mollusca in the 

 Museum, and he enriched the colieclion by many interest- 

 ing and rare types. In his annual trips to his estate in 

 Orkney he also made researches on the antiquities and 

 geology of the district, and these he embodied in papers 

 communicated to the Edinburgh Antiquarian .Society, and 

 to the Society at St. Andrews. Amongst these papers are 

 the following : — " Results of Excavations at the Broch of 

 Burrian, Orkney," two plates and woodcuts ; " Notice of 

 Excavations at Stenabeck, Orkney," with woodcuts ; 

 "On Submarine Forests in Orkney"; "On the Picts' 

 Houses of Skerra Broc " ; "On the Recurrence of 

 Boulder-Clay in Orkney " ; " Notice of the Boulders in 

 North Ronaldshay," &c. 



His knowledge of botany also enabled him to acclima- 

 tise various plants in Orkney, such as Phormium tenax, 

 various Veronicas, the Manuka (Capt. Cook's sea-plant), 

 the Japanese Euonyinus, and others. 



Dr. Traill was a man of refined and cultivated mind, 

 genial but unobtrusive, and had a large circle of friends. 

 He enjoyed good health till eighteen months ago, when 

 the first symptoms of the disease which ultimately proved 

 fatal appeared. W. C. M. 



THE EARTHQUAKE 



A SERIES of shocks of earthquake has caused much 

 havoc in the Riviera during the last week. Although 

 it is too early to attempt to give a complete account of 

 what has happened, the leading facts, so far as they are 

 of scientific interest, are well summed up in the follow- 

 ing report, issued by Father Denza, of the Montcalieri 

 Observatory : — 



" (l) The earthquake in our region has had nearly the 



