Ohiiuary — Hon. C. King — Rev. F. Smithe. 143 



other crag had been struck during the very heavy thunderstorm 

 which passed over the district on a Sunday evening in the Summer 

 of 1898 (I do not remember the exact date), when several beasts 

 were killed by lightning. In this case some blocks have been 

 thrown eighteen yards from the parent rock ; the largest of these is 

 between ten and eleven cubic feet in size, and there are several 

 others lying beside it measui'ing three cubic feet and less. One 

 huge block measuring sixty-four cubic feet had been thrown twenty- 

 six yards. There are no marks of vitrifaction on the stricken crags 

 nor on the detached fragments. The lightning has done nothing 

 more than to break off slices and chunks and cast them to a distance. 



On subsequently examining the ground again I found several other 

 places where the rocks had been struck by lightning. 



The name of the place given on the Ordnance Map is Cerig y Mellt. 

 If this name is correct it is significant, for the words mean ' rocks 

 of lightning ' ; but there is some doubt as to what is the correct 

 name, for Mr. Roberts tells me that he learnt from his father to 

 call the place Cerig y Myllt, which means ' rocks of the wethers.' 



J. R. Daktns. 

 Snowdon View, ISTant Gwynant, Beddgelert. 

 January 25, 1902. 



OBITTJ.A.ia'Z". 



HON. CLARENCE KING, F.G.S. 

 Born . Died December 24, 1901. 



In the death of Clarence King geological science has lost one 

 who rendered distinguished service in the surveys of the United 

 States. He was born at Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated 

 from the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University in 1852. 

 He prepared the geological and topographical atlas and several 

 important reports for the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth 

 Parallel, and when in 1880 this and other geological surveys were 

 amalgamated as the United States Geological Survey, Mr. King was 

 appointed Director. Under his charge the Survey was carried on 

 with vigour, and special investigations were made on regions of 

 exceptional economic importance. A year later, however, Mr. King 

 relinquished his position, desiring to devote himself unfettered to 

 geological research. His fame, however, rests on his official work. 

 Mr. King died at Phoenix, Arizona, on December 24th, 1901. 



REV. FREDERICK SMITHE, M.A., LL.D., F.G.S. 



Born 1822. Died December 9, 1900. 



We learn from the recently published Address of the President of 

 the Cotteswold Club (Mr. E. B. Wethered) of the death more than 

 a year ago of Dr. Frederick Smithe, vicar of Churchdown in 

 Gloucestershire. He laboured for many years with great enthusiasm 



