150 



3n flDemoriam. 



ROBERT H. PHILIP 



(1852— 1912). 



Recently it has been our pain to record many great gaps in 

 the ranks of northern naturahsts. Gaps that it will be difficult, 

 if not impossible, to fill. And the most recent of these is 

 caused by the death of Robert H. Philip, of Hull, which oc- 

 curred on April 15th ; and it was a surprise to most to learn that 



he had passed his sixtieth birth- 

 day. 



For many 3'^ears Mr. Philip 

 has been a regular attendant 

 at the meetings of the Yorkshire 

 Naturalists' Union. He was ex- 

 ceedingly well versed in many 

 branches of science, was a great 

 reader, and an able critic. On 

 several occasions he has favoured 

 us with papers, which ha\-e not 

 only been valuable from the 

 record of original work and re- 

 search which they contained, but 

 were remarkable from their ex- 

 ceptionally fine literary style. 

 Retiring in disposition, and of 

 a quiet nature, Mr. Philip was 

 nevertheless particularly brilliant 

 in discussion or debate, and he 

 had the quick eye and warm 

 heart of a true humorist. Yet 

 his wit was never known to be 

 offensive, and to be hurtful or 

 unkind was as opposite to his 

 nature as are the poles. 

 It is now a quarter of a century since the writer first made 

 his acquaintance, and in that time he has seen practicallv no 

 change in him. He always had the same pleasant smile, the 

 same helping hand, the same sound advice, the same sincerity. 

 Though possessing, a knowledge of natural science far 

 ab.ove the average, he seemed particularly partial to botany, 

 especially the lower forms of plant life, such as the micro- 

 fungi, diatoms, etc. As a microscopist, also, he had an excel- 

 lent reputation, and as a writer and lecturer on matters micros- 

 copical, had few equals in the north of England. He was 

 nearly always present at the annual Fungus Forays of the 

 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, and at the last meeting at Mul- 



Xaturalist, 



