OCTOUEK 29, 1896J 



NA TURE 



629 



16th inst. came as a surprise, even to those best ac- 

 quainted with his condition. For several years he 

 suffered from deafness, which at length became absolute, 

 and then gradual paralysis of the lower limbs set in. 

 This terminated not long since in utter helplessness so 

 far as his legs were concerned, and functional complica- 

 tions arising, he succumbed sooner than was expected. 

 He bore his afflictions with wonderful fortitude, and even 

 cheerfulness ; and his only desire was to be spared to 

 complete his great work, the " Handbook to the Flora 

 of Ceylon." But this was not to be. It is to be hoped, 

 however, that a competent botanist will be found to 

 complete this important and admirably-planned publi- 

 cation. 



Henry Trimen was born in London in 1843, and 

 educated at King's College. In 1865 he graduated 

 M.B., but he never practised medicine. His favourite 

 study was botany, and he at first specially devoted him- 

 self to the British flora and the sources of vegetable 

 drugs. In 1S67 he was appomted Lecturer on Botany at 

 St. Mary's Hospital Medical School ; and in 1S69, he 

 entered the Botanical Department of the British Museum 

 as senior assistant. In the meantime he had published 

 a number of contributions to British botany, chiefly re- 

 lating to the flora of Surrey, of Hampshire, and es- 

 pecially of Middlesex. His first work appeared in the 

 Pliytologist in 1862. Soon he became acquainted with 

 W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, the present Director of Kew 

 Gardens, and the result was their admirable " Flora of 

 Middlesex," published in i86g. This work still holds 

 a position in the first rank among courity " Floras." In 

 1866, Trimen discovered W'olffia arrhiza at Staines ; the 

 first locality recorded for it in England. It was in that 

 year that the writer became acquainted with Trimen 

 and his associate, and made various excursions with 

 them collecting materials for their "Flora." In 1870, 

 Trimen joined Dr. B. Seemann in editing \\-\ii Journal of 

 Botany, and on the death of the latter he assumed the full 

 responsibilities of editor, which he continued to exercise 

 until he went to Ceylon. Concurrently he was conduct- 

 ing his investigations in medical botany, and he associated 

 himself with Robert Bentley in the publication of an 

 illustrated work on " Medicinal Plants" — a work of much 

 research, comprising four volumes containing upwards 

 of 300 coloured plates. Passing over many minor events, 

 we come to the period when he was appointed to succeed 

 Dr. Thwaites in the important and onerous duties of 

 Director of the Botanic Gardens of Ceylon — duties he 

 discharged in a manner satisfactoiy to the home authori- 

 ties and the colonists. His annual reports are models 

 of what such reports should be. He at once took up 

 the study of the native flora, and was soon actively en- 

 gaged in the introduction of %aluable economic plants 

 of other countries for cultivation in Ceylon. The first 

 volume of his "Handbook" appeared in 1893; the 

 second in 1894; the third in 1895 ; and from his last 

 letters we learn that he was still working with a will, in 

 spite of his afflictions. 



As a botanist, Trimen was a man of great attainments. 

 As a friend, he was sympathetic, sincere, and constant. 

 His work was always thoroughly and conscientiously per- 

 formed, and is consequently of an enduring nature. This 

 was recognised in his being elected a Fellow of the 

 Roval Societvin 1883. W. Bottinc, Hkmslkv. 



NOTES. 



A> briefly announced in these columns on September 17, a 

 Xansen research fund is being raised in Norway. Its object 

 is to commemorate the remarkable Arctic expedition of tliis 

 e-vplorer by the foundation of a fund called " The Fridtjof 

 Nansen Fund " for scientific research. The Times of October 

 23 .says it is intended that, by this means, research in various 



NO. 1409, VOL. 54] 



departments of science shall be promoted, and the results 

 published. Dr. Nansen himself may be appointed director, 

 but there will be no salary attached to the office, as the whole 

 of the yearly products of the fund will be devoted to the objects 

 stated. Up to the present no less than 300,000 kroner have 

 been subscribed. Consul A. Herberg, Dr. Nansen's friend, has 

 contributed 50,000 kroner ; while others, besides numerous 

 Norwegians, are Baron Oscar Dickson, 25,000 kroner ; Dr. A. 

 Nobel, 25,000 kroner; and Prof. Frankland, 1000 kroner. It 

 is stated that the fund will probably be placed under the care 

 of the Christiania University, the Norwegian Society of Science, 

 and the Bergen Museum. If any wealthy Englishmen, who 

 are admirers of Dr. Nansen, care to contribute, they should 

 communicate with the Committee of the " Fridtjof Nansens 

 fond til indenskabens fremme, University, Christiania." 



From the British Central African Gazelle we learn that Mr. 

 Alexander Whyte, Sir Harry Johnston's scientific assistant in 

 British Central Africa, has just returned from a successful 

 expedition into the Nyika plateau on the north-eastern shores 

 of Lake Nyasa, and has made a large collection. The flora of 

 this district proved to be most interesting, resembling that of 

 Mount Milanji in the south of Nyasaland, but differing from it 

 in many respects. Mr. Whyte failed to find any trace of a 

 conifer, but the range is richer in heaths than Milanji. He 

 obtained 6000 specimens of plants and a large zoological 

 collection. 



At a meeting of the Physical Society, to be held on October 

 30, it will be proposed (inter alia) that the subscription to the 

 Society be increased to £z 2s. , that life members be invited to 

 contribute an annual subscription of £1 is., and that, in 

 future, members be styled " Fellows of the Physical Society of 

 London." 



A NOTABLE experiment in kite-flying was made at Blue Hill 

 Observatory, N.J., on October 8. The greatest height yet 

 reached by kites was attained, records >being made at a height of 

 9385 feet above sea-level. More than three miles of piano 

 wire were paid out, the ascension beginning at 9.15 a.m., and 

 continuing till 9.5 p.m. The pull on the wire was from 20 

 to 50 pounds at the start, and ranged from 50 to 95 pounds 

 at the highest point, after which it slowly decreased. The 

 instrument entered and passed through clouds, as shown by 

 the record of very dry air above them. The temperature fell 

 from 46' at the hill to 20" at an altitude of S750 feet. The 

 meteorograph record in ink, on a revolving cylinder run by 

 clockwork, was the best yet obtained. The lifting force con- 

 sisted of seven Eddy, or tailless, and two Hargrave, or box kites, 

 from 6 to 9 feet in diameter. The instrument was more than a 

 mile high during three hours. 



The King of Servia has conferred upon Prof. 1). E. Hughes, 

 F.R.S., the Grand Officer's Star and Collar of the Royal 

 Order ot Takovo. 



Mr. J. Wolfe Barry, C.B., F.R.S., is to deliver his 

 presidential address to the Institution of Civil Engineers on 

 November 3, at the inauguration of the seventy-eighth session 

 of the society. 



Mr. J. De Wi.NTER, Assistant at the Royal Zoological 

 Society's Garden at Antwerp, has been appointed Super- 

 intendent of the Zoological Garden at Gizeh, Cairo, and will 

 shortly leave for Eg)pt. 



The first meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club for the 

 jiresent session was held at Frascati's Restaurant, Oxford 

 Street, on Wednesday, the 22nd inst., and was attended by 

 thirty-four members and guests. After some preliminary 

 business Mr. Sclater, who was in the chair, gave an address on 

 the progress of Ornithology during the past twelvemonths. 



