2 The Retirement of Dr. Henry Woodward. 



Professor T. E. Jones) totalled 264 ; by this time they are probably 

 little, if at all, short of 300. 



But since on this occasion it is our intention to dwell on 

 Dr. Woodward's connection with the British Museum, rather than 

 with his general work and his editorship of this Magazine, we may 

 pass on to our main subject. 



Dr. Woodward first joined the staff of the Museum at Bloomsbury 

 in 1858. The following year he was promoted, and he received 

 a step in 1865 and again in 1867. In June, 1880, on the retirement 

 of Mr. G. E. Waterhouse, he was appointed Keeper of the Department 

 of Geology ; and since that date, with his Assistants, he has achieved 

 the task of rearranging the entire Geological Collection in the galleries 

 of the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Eoad, where, by the aid 

 of popular and well-illustrated guidebooks, diagrams, and descriptive 

 labels, the scientific student, and even the ordinary visitor, can readily 

 derive instruction from the objects displayed in the cases. How 

 much hard work and patience are required for a task of this nature, 

 and what varied kinds of knowledge are necessary in order to bring 

 it to a satisfactory conclusion (or, rather, to keep the Museum up to 

 date), only those who have tried it can judge. 



The first edition of the Guidebook to the Geological Department 

 was issued under Dr. Woodward's superintendence in 1881 ; and 

 since that date each new edition has been expanded and improved. 

 The Guidebook is, of course, for the benefit of the general public, 

 who have, as taxpayers, the first claim on the Museum. But the 

 needs of scientific workers have by no means been neglected, and to 

 Dr. Woodward is due the credit of having initiated in the Geological 

 Department the issue of ' Catalogues ' like those which previously 

 proved so valuable to the students of recent zoology. Since 1881 

 a large number of these Catalogues have appeared under his super- 

 vision ; how important these are to workers in the life-history of 

 our globe, readers of the Geological Magazine do not require to be 

 informed. 



It may be added that, according to the rules of the Civil Service, 

 Dr. Woodward's time of service expired more than four years ago ; 

 but, upon the recommendation of the Trustees of the Museum, the 

 Treasury twice sanctioned an extension of his period of service. We 

 learn, moreover, that they have approved of his employment for 

 a year longer on special work connected with the Museum. We 

 also understand that at their meeting on November 23rd the Trustees 

 passed a vote of thanks to Dr. Woodward on his retirement from the 

 office of Keeper for the great services he had rendered during 

 a period of nearly 44 years to the Geological Department. 



Eeaders of this Magazine will, we feel sure, join in wishing 

 Dr. Woodward health and happiness in the comparative rest he has 

 so well earned ; and they will be pleased also to have a copy of his 

 portrait, which we have the privilege of inserting. 



E. L. 



