Professor Charles Lapworthy LL.D., F.RS. 295 



the crucial points visited many times over until tlieir structure has 

 become quite clear. To this class of work Lapworth was naturally 

 drawn by his early interest in physical geography, when he was 

 always seeking to explain the causes underlying observed phenomena. 

 His untiring industry, actuated by what has been called ' a genius 

 for stratigraphy ' and a good eye for a country, filled even the 

 dullest routine work with interest. (2) The observation of minute 

 lithological changes whether in a vertical or a lateral direction. 

 (3) The zonal collection and identification of fossils from every band 

 which yields them. (4) The capacity to ' see solid ' into a map 

 so that a complete picture of the solid structure is constantly present 

 before the mind. (5) The careful thinking out of the bearing of facts 

 observed and entered on the maps in the light of many possible 

 theoretical explanations, until a consistent hypothesis is hit upon 

 by the method of trial and error. (6) But, above all, the power 

 to realize vividly the conditions which might have given rise to the 

 observed phenomena ; so that in imagination he sees them at work 

 and studies their results. It has been said more than once that it 

 is of no use to contradict Lapworth when he has made up his mind 

 on a geological question, " because he was there when the rocks 

 were made." 



2. Work in the Laboratory and Study. 



Lapworth's investigations on the graptolites must be regarded as the 

 outcome of his work in the Uplands, for from this region he collected 

 and worked through hosts of these fossils, the diiSculty of satisfactorily 

 identifying species causing him to save all specimens which might 

 lead to unmistakeable identification or throw light on the life-history 

 of these extinct hydrozoa. At the time he began the study the 

 classification of the graptolites in general use was in almost as unsatis- 

 factory a state as the grouping of the rocks, and the two studies had 

 to be carried on concurrently. But while this increased the labour it 

 intensified the interest, and directed attention to points which might 

 otherwise have been overlooked. The graptolites, among which 

 excellent work was also being done by Hopkinson and Nicholson, 

 soon began to sort themselves out ; the rock-formations resisted much 

 longer. Lapworth's study and comparison of his own collection, 

 with those ah-eady made in other parts of the world, gave rise to his 

 paper " On an Lnproved Classification of the Rhabdophora," which 

 was published in 1873, and has since been either accepted as the 

 standard to which graptolites are referred, or has formed the basis 

 upon which the newer provisional classifications are founded. 

 Having acquired a profound belief in the value of graptolite species 

 for zone work, he took every opportunity for several years to collect 

 specimens not only in Scotland but in Wales and Ireland, and of 

 studying the works and collections of others, thus accumulating 

 a vast amount of material for his invaluable ti-eatise on " The 

 Geological Distribution of the Ehabdophora" (1879-80), in which 

 for the first time not only are graptolite zones established over 

 Britain, but the distribution of the zones and their contents all over 



