Obituary — Alexander Somervail. 285 



district of Edinburgh, and lived the larger half of his life within 

 and near that centre of intellectual activity. His self-contained and 

 contemplative temperament was early displayed in his solitary habits, 

 and the interest he took in collecting ' curios ' and an earnest regard 

 for the study of nature which increased with growing years. To 

 follow this inclination became his chief relaxation and recreation 

 during the time he could spare from the business occupation which 

 formed his necessary means of livelihood. With the care, attention, 

 and judgment which ensure success he found himself, at length, the 

 proprietor of a prosperous business in Edinburgh. 



During these years he had associated himself with the learned 

 Societies of the city, and became a member of the Philosophic 

 Institution, the Naturalists Eield Club, and the Geological Society 

 of Edinburgh. He was thus brought into contact with many of the 

 leading men of science in the city, and with such help and stimulus 

 he soon became a keen student and active member. Turning his 

 attention chiefly to geology he devoted all his spare time to 

 traversing and examining the country around Edinburgh so as to 

 gain practical knowledge of the district geologically. 



Finding the severe winters of Edinburgh affecting his health he 

 determined to leave his native place for a milder climate. Con- 

 sequently in 1880 he started a business in Ealmouth. There he met 

 Mr. Howard Eox, F.G.S., whom he also inspired with an enthusiasm 

 for geological research, by which a warm friendship was established, 

 resulting in many visits to the strange complex of rocks of the Lizard 

 district, and other geological excursions, even as far afield as the 

 Western Isles of Scotland. Some of the results of these investigations 

 were placed before the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, for 

 which that body later on elected him an honorary member. For his 

 paper on "The Geology and Scenery of Falmouth and District", read 

 before the Eoyal Polytechnic Society of Cornwall, he was awarded 

 the bronze medal of that Society. 



After two years residence in Falmouth he removed to Torquay, 

 attracted by the Natural History Society and Museum, of which he at 

 once sought membership and was elected in October, 1883, reading 

 his first paper to the Society a month later. 



He started a business in Torquay, but soon disposed of it and devoted 

 his whole time and attention to geology and to the work of the 

 Natural History Societj r . In 1890 he was called upon to take in 

 hand the Honorary Secretaryship of the Society, a work for which 

 he was well fitted. The Society passed through some critical phases 

 during his secretaryship, but the lectures and monthly papers never 

 failed, and his genial presence, courteous interest, and read)' help 

 drew many members. His never-flagging enthusiasm for nature 

 study was contagious, and he inspired many to follow Natural History 

 pursuits in the field. He attended the meetings of the British 

 Association, of which, as well as of the Devonshire Association, he 

 was a member, and contributed papers on geology to both. 



Having satisfied his desire by a personal visit to the most interesting 

 geological areas in Britain, he sought wider fields for geological 

 observation abroad. Alone and with command of no other than his 



