Obitwary—Robert John Lechmere Guppy. 479 
had an imperfect hexagonal structure, and that accidental fractures 
must produce the shapes found in ‘ Koliths’. 
Mr. Dawson was a most versatile student, and during the beginning 
of his last illness was investigating a case of the development of 
incipient horns in a cart-horse. He had a restless mind, ever alert 
to note anything unusual; and he was never satisfied until he had 
exhausted all means to solve and understand any problem which 
presented itself. He was a delightful colleague in scientific research, 
always cheerful, hopeful, and overflowing with enthusiasm. The 
premature loss of his inspiring and genial presence: is indeed a great 
sorrow to his large circle of devoted friends. Aa S aa 
"ROBERT JOIN EECHMEREYGUPRY, 
Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society of London and of 
the New York and Philadelphia Academies of Science. 
Born Auaust 15, 1836. Diep AuGusrT 5, 1916. 
We deeply regret to announce the death of Robert John Lechmere 
Guppy, 1n the Island of Trinidad, on August 5, 1916, who was within 
a few days of completing the 80th year of his age. The deceased 
was born in London in 1836, his father being the Hon. R. Guppy, 
M.A., Barrister-at-law, and for many years the Mayor of San 
Fernando, Trinidad. He qualified for a Civil Engineer, and after- 
wards travelled through Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 
On returning he joined his family at Trinidad and became engaged 
in the construction of the Cipero Railway, subsequently entering the 
Colonial Secretary’s office, and in 1868 was appointed to the important. 
position of Chief Inspector of Schools, which he held until retirement 
in 1891. He was an ardent student of natural history and foremost 
in supporting the scientific societies of his island home, having been 
president of the Scientific Association of Trinidad and the first elected 
‘presiding officer of the Royal Victoria Institute Board. He was 
particularly interested in the Marine Mollusca, and was instrumental 
in obtaining for the British Museum the second largest example of 
a living species of Plewrotomaria known to conchologists, having a 
height of 150 millimetres. The shell was obtained from off the 
Island of Tobago, and was described by Guppy in a locally published 
journal. : ; 
Mr. Guppy’s scientific labours will always be associated with his 
investigations on the geology and paleontology of Trinidad and other 
regions of the West Indies. Until his researches began the only 
information on the geology of Trinidad was obtainable from Wall 
and Sawkins’ ‘‘ Report ”’ of 1860, published by the Geological Survey 
of England, the paleontological portion of which was furnished by 
the late R. Etheridge, F.R.S., who regarded the Tertiary fossils as 
belonging probably to the Miocene period. Guppy’s first papers 
referred to the Foraminiferal beds of San Fernando, containing 
numerous Orbitoides and other forms, as well as Brachiopods, 
Kchinoids, and Crustacea, which were described and figured and 
assigned to the older Miocene. It was found that these fossils bore 
resemblances to those from the Farallon rock which enabled both sets 
