182 Reports and Proceedings — 



It is scarcely necessary to remind you that our Wollaston Medallist has occupied 

 the Chair of Pala3ontology at Munich for 28 years, during which time he has not 

 only perfected the collections at the museum, but his personal teaching has attracted 

 to his lectures students from almost all parts of the civilized world. I feel confident, 

 therefore, that the selection of the Council will be cordially endorsed both by the 

 Fellows of our own Society and by all, whether at home or abroad, who are 

 interested in the brilliant record of one of the foremost paleontologists of the age. 



Dr. Woodward, in reply, said : — Mr. President, — 



I feel sure that no award of the "Wollaston Medal made by the Council of this 

 Society has ever been more popular than that made to Geheimi-ath K. A. von Zittel, 

 and I only regret that his duties as Dean of the Faculty in his University, and 

 his daily lectures, have prevented him from being present to receive the Medal in 

 person. I shall, however, be happy to convey to him your kind expressions of 

 appreciation for this work ; and I beg permission to read to you, from a letter which 

 1 have received, the following message addressed to yourself : — 



" With respectful thanks I acknowledge the unexpected honour with which the 

 Council of the Geological Society has favoured me, in awarding to me the Wollaston 

 Medal. I need scarcely say how highly I appreciate this distinction, conferred upon 

 rae by the most competent of scientific juries. I am really proud to have reached 

 this highest aim for the ambition of every geologist, and I feel particularly pleased 

 to find among the late and present possessors of the Wollaston Medal the name of 

 H. G. Bronn, my first teacher in palteontology, and of Franz von Hauer, who 

 directed my first steps in geological field observation. 



"If, through conscientious labour, I have been fortunate enough to contribute 

 somewhat to the promotion of our knowledge of Palaeontology and Geology, I feel 

 by your kindly recognition amply rewarded for all the pains that I may have taken 

 in my scientific researches. 



" I deeply regret that I am unable to thank you personally, Mr. President; but 

 you may be sure that the honour you have bestowed on me will be a strong incentive 

 to make myself more worthy of your confidence by further investigations in the wide 

 field of Palaeontology and Geology." 



The President then presented the Balance of the Proceeds of the 

 Wollaston Donation Fund to Mr. Aubrey Strahan, M.A., F.G.S., 

 addressing him in the following words : — Mr. Strahan, — 



The Council have this year awarded to you the balance of the Proceeds of the 

 Wollaston Donation Fund, in token of appreciation of your geological work in 

 several parts of England and on the Welsh Border. In solid geology you have 

 especially distinguished yourself amongst the Carboniferous rocks of the Pennine 

 Chain and of North Wales, whilst your contributions to our own Journal, on more 

 than one subject in connection with the Mesozoic rocks, have evinced the interest 

 that you take in questions arising within your own professional experience. The 

 Glacial Drifts of the Welsh Border and the Glaciation of South Lancashire have 

 also come under your notice in dcHling with the difiicult subject of Superficial 

 Deposits. Beyond any mere assistance which the Balance of the Fund might 

 render towards further research, the Council, by this Award, desire to express their 

 sense of the value of the work which you have already accomplished. 



Mr. Strahan replied as follows : — Mr. President, — 



In thanking you and the Council of the Geolngical Society for this Award, I 

 wish to express my deep gratification at beins: honoured by your selection. 



During my connection with the Geological Survey I have, from the nature of the 

 work, been engaged in so many difierent parts of the country that I have been 

 unable to concentrate my attention on any one formation as closely as might have 

 been the case, and have been led to consider some of the wider problems of geology, 

 I trust, however, that my work has not been without service to those engaged upon 

 the more minute zonal divisions of strata. 



In every district in which I have been occupied, geologists with local knowledge 

 have generously placed their observations at my disposal. The only return I could 

 make lay in producing the results of my work as expeditiously and in as useful a 

 form as possible. I take this Award as an indication that I have not been wholly 

 unsuccessful. 



