KOBELT : CARL EDUARD VON MARTENS. 173 



ments from Eastern and Western Africa, New Guinea, and the 

 Melanesian Archipelago, crowded upon him in an almost alarming 

 manner. Science owes to him a series of important works, embracing 

 almost the whole of the molluscan fauna of these regions, but von 

 Martens often complained that he was constantly occupied with the 

 arrangement of these acquisitions, and had no time for real work. 

 That was his view of the matter; others regard his latest works on 

 Weber's Fresh and Brackish-Water Mollusca of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, on the MoUusca of German East Africa, and the Seychelles, 

 and on the Mollusca of Central America as patterns of carefully 

 worked-out faunas, and as "real work" in the highest sense of the term. 



But still these investigations constituted only one part of the weight 

 of labour which rested on Martens. We must not forget that he was 

 also the first authority to whom anyone turned who required 

 information not only about mollusca, but also on other zoological ques- 

 tions, and that he gave his viev.'s on both important and unimportant 

 questions with inexhaustible patience. For this work he had one very 

 important qualification — he had his knowledge not only in his head, 

 but also systematically arranged on paper. From the beginning of 

 his scientific activity, he had noted down everything which interested 

 him, and that meant practically the whole range of zoology, and 

 arranged the material in small portfolios. When a question arose, he 

 needed only to open the proper receptacle, in order to get the required 

 information. Many zoologists have enjoyed the benefit of this "paper 

 memory," including the author of these lines, in more instances than one. 



In spite of several peculiarities which seemed to mark him out as 

 a bachelor, von Martens had the happiness of finding a companion 

 for life in Camilla Wagner, who seemed to have been created exactly 

 to suit him. He lived with her for more than thirty years an ideal 

 married life, and a daughter, who inherited- the artistic gifts of the 

 family, completed his happiness. 



Distinctions and honours he never sought, but nevertheless they 

 descended upon him in rich measure. His power of work remained 

 with him to the end. It was permitted to him to complete some 

 important works commenced in his later years, and to live out to its 

 natural boundary a rich and happy career. Honour be to his 

 memory, peace to his ashes ! 



Vallonia excentrica Sterki, in Ireland. — In a parcel of shells which Mr. 

 P. H. Grieison sent me recently to record were specimens of a Vallonia, collected 

 by him at Alornington, Co. Meath, in October, 1 904. The shells agreed with the 

 description of V. excentrica (^anlea p. 82), and Mr. B. B. Woodward, to whom I 

 submitted them, has kindly confirmed my identification. This species probably has 

 a wide range in Ireland, but, so far as I know, has not been recognised hitherto. 

 — Chas. Oldham {Read before the Society, December 14th, 1904). 



