96 Obituary— F. W. Egan. 



his degree of B.A. and a diploma in Engineering. Commencing 

 professional life as a railway engineer, be did considerable work in 

 connection witb tbe Great Nortbern, Great Southern, and Dublin. 

 Wicklow, and Wexford Railways, then in course of construction, 

 In 1868 be quitted tbe somewhat desultory employment of railway 

 engineer for a more permanent position on the staff" of tbe Geological 

 Survey of Ireland, being appointed assistant geologist on tbe 

 nomination of tbe late Professor Jukes, F.E.S. In 1890 be was 

 promoted to tbe grade of geologist on tbe recommendation of tbe 

 present Director-General of tbe Survey, Sir A. Geikie, D.C.L., F.R.S. 

 His work was always characterized by the great care be bestowed 

 on it, no details being too insignificant for his attention, and while 

 he did not seek fame as an independent essayist, his contributions to 

 tbe Official Memoirs and other reports furnish a mass of information 

 which has often proved of considerable economic value. In the 

 Summer of 1899 he met witb an unfortunate accident, being 

 violently thrown off a car while travelling in tbe execution of his 

 duties, and sustained severe injuries, from which he never fully 

 recovered. Some six months ago bis complaint assumed a malignant 

 form, which terminated in his death, after a long period of much 

 suffering, on tbe 6tb January. In personal character Mr. Egan 

 was one of the kindliest and most lovable of men, and beyond 

 the circle of his own family and immediate friends none will 

 regret bis loss more than his colleagues of tbe Geological Survey, 

 to whom he was much endeared by bis unfailing amiability', 

 obligingness, and thorough good-nature. — Irish Times, January 11th. 



IJVCISGIEJXjIjJLIiTiEOTJS. 



The Directok-Genekal of the Geological Survey of the 

 United Kingdobi.— The announcement has just reached us (January 

 15tb) that Sir Archibald Geikie has intimated bis intention to retire 

 from tbe post of Director-General of tbe Geological Survey of tbe 

 United Kingdom, an office which be has so ably filled for tbe past 

 twenty years, on March 1st next. In 1855, at tbe age of 20, Sir 

 A. Geikie became an Assistant on tbe Geological Survey of Scotland, 

 and be was made Director for Scotland in 1867. In 1881 he was 

 appointed to succeed Sir Andrew Ramsay as Director- General of tbe 

 Geological Survey of tbe United Kingdom. He has seen forty-six 

 years' service, but is now only in bis 66tb year. (See bis life, 

 Geol. Mag. 1890, p. 49.) Early in March he will be entertained 

 by bis friends at a complimentary dinner. All who wish to attend 

 should communicate witb Mr. E. W. Rudler, Museum of Practical 

 Geology, 28, Jermyn Street, London, S.W. — We rejoice to learn that 

 Sir A. Geikie has no intention of retiring from active participation 

 in geological work, and that neither bis hammer nor his pen are to 

 be laid aside for some years to come. 



