Obituary — Charles Tomlinson, F.R.8. 191 



magnificent specimen of Cyeadeoidea, which is now in the British 

 Museum Fossil Plant Gallery. 



Since this was published my attention has been called to the fact 

 that it is to Mr. A. M. Wallis, guide and quarryman, of Portland, 

 that we are primarily indebted for this valuable addition to the 

 National Collection. Mr. Wallis, on discovering the specimen, at 

 once realized its scientific value, and took care that it fell into the 

 hands of those who appreciated its worth. I am much indebted 

 to Mr. Strahan for calling my attention to this omission, and for 

 furnishing me with the above facts. A. C. Seward. 



Cambuidge, March 11, 1897. 



THE AGE OF THE MORTE SLATES. 



Sir,— If Dr. Hicks had only claimed that the Morte Slates are 

 older than the Ilfracombe Beds, probably no palaeontologist would 

 have objected on the evidence at present available. But Dr. Hicks 

 claimed that the fossils proved the Morte Slates to be Silurian. 



If Dr. Hicks considers the Oriskany Sandstone to be Silurian, his 

 views are as reactionary regarding the Devonian rocks of America as 

 they are revolutionary regarding those of England. 



In reference to the suggestion that I had not noticed that the 

 specimen shown in figure 3 in the text did not belong to the same 

 individual as the specimen shown in pi. x, fig. 6, I would ask 

 wliether the fossil fox on the staircase of the Geological Society and 

 the fossil fox in the British Museum are to be called one specimen ? 

 I should think most people would call them two specimens repre- 

 senting one individual. 



I am grateful to Dr. Hicks for emphasizing my argument that 

 Modiolopsis cannot be recognized without seeing the dentition. But 

 as this is not shown in any of the Morte Slate specimens, why were 

 they referred to the typically Silurian genus Modiolopsis'^ 



In regard to the identification of the big Brachiopod, I did not 

 refer to the " characteristic ribbing," as I did not think the character 

 worth referring to. I have nothing to add or retract from my 

 remarks about this fossil, and prefer to leave the question to the 

 ultimate decision of palasontologists. J. W. Gregory. 



OBITTJ.A.S,":2". 



CHARLES TOMLINSON, F.R 8. 



Born in 1808. Died February 15, 1897. 



By the death of Charles Tomlinson science has lost a man of 

 great learning, and who may perhaps be appropriately described 

 as a Natural Philosopher of the old school. Although best known 

 for his researches on physical and chemical subjects, as Lecturer 

 on Experimental Science at King's College, and as one of the 

 founders of the Physical Society ; he was also a man of great 

 literary attainments, and one who had given a good deal of attention 

 to subjects of Natural History, including Geology. 



He joined the Geologists' Association soon after it was established 

 in 1859, and was for several years an active member, serving on 



