288 Obituary — Robert Mackenzie Johnston. 



rocks below the Coal-measures proper, is strongly insisted upon, and 

 the lapse of forty years has but added strength to the views then 

 brought forward. Of many papers relating to the Geology of 

 Durham may be noted those dealing with the classification of the 

 Salt-measures, the breccia-filled fissures in the Magnesian Limestone 

 (aptly termed by him breccia-gastes), and the Marl Slate and Yellow 

 Sands. 



As many as nineteen papers are recorded under Lebour's name in 

 the Geological Magazine Index from 1869 to 1887, but he has 

 contributed over one hundred papers on geological subjects to 

 various journals. One of these of special interest, published as long 

 ago as in July, 1876, on "The Carrara Marbles", gives a most 

 instructive history of the geological vicissitudes undergone by these 

 highly metamorphosed Limestone Rocks from their reference to 

 Eruptive and Cretaceous Oolitic, Jurassic, Liassic, Rhsetic, and 

 finally being assigned to the Lower Carboniferous age by Coquand 

 on the evidence of fossils. The similar saccharoidal limestones of 

 St. Beat in the Pyrenees have also been, on the evidence of fossils, 

 proved to be equivalent to the statuary marbles of Carrara and of 

 like Carboniferous Limestone age. (Geol. Mag., 1876, pp. 289-92 

 and p. 382.) 



Lebour wrote " The Geology of Durham " in the Victoria Mistory 

 and the Handhooh to the Geology and Natural History of Northumber- 

 land and Durham, of which three editions have appeared (1878-89). 

 It is a very effective monument to his life-work in the two counties, 

 aad has the remarkable merit of increasing in value the more it 

 is used. 



This brief narrative of work accomplished gives, however,, no true 

 estimate of Lebour's scientific activity and influence. He was 

 a many-sided man, of wonderful fluency, both in the written and 

 spoken word, and a born teacher. His papers are models of clearness 

 and skilful arrangement of material; they are written in flawless 

 English, and they often display that sense of humour which was one 

 of his notable characteristics. These same qualities were, if possible, 

 accentuated in his lectures. He inspired a great band of workers, 

 who have carried his methods and enthusiasm to the four quarters of 

 the globe, and he was ever ready to help, by his sage advice, those 

 whose steps he had directed towards scientific paths. — From Nature, 

 February 21, 1918. 



He leaves a widow and two daughters with a wide circle of 

 personal and scientific friends to cherish his memory. 



ROBERT MACKENZIE JOHNSTON. 

 Mb. E. M. Johnston, the well-known Registrar - General and 

 Government Statistician of Tasmania, was born at Inverness, 

 educated at the Andersonian University of Glasgow, and went to 

 Australia at the age of 26. He was the author of many works on 

 Tasraanian natural history, notably the Systematic Account of the 

 Geology of Tasmania, 1888. He received "the I.S.O. in 1903, and 

 died at Hobart on April 20, 1918.— Morning Post. 



