38 JOURNA.I- OF CONCHOI.OGY, VOL. 16, NO. 2, AUGUST 30, I919. 



This weakh of his interests is demonstrated by the grateful acknow- 

 ledgments of his aid by various authors, amongst whom may be 

 specially mentioned the late Mr. T. H. Nelson, the author of "The 

 Birds of Yorkshire," and Mr. G. T. Porritt, who wrote "Yorkshire 

 Lepidoptera." 



Mr. Roebuck was one of the four founders of the Conchological 

 Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1876, and for many years its 

 Secretary. He drew up the original code of rules. He was a past 

 President, and one of the ten Honorary Members of the Society. 



Though possessing a wide and accurate knowledge of other 

 branches of science, he was especially attached to conchology, his 

 chief interests being the geographical distribution of life, and the 

 specific and varietal characters of the British terrestrial slugs. 



The late Prof Simroth, of Leipzig, named in his honour Urocydus 

 roebucki, a large and conspicuous East African slug. 



The scientific work with which his name will always be associated 

 is the institution of the "Authenticated Census " of British Non-Marine 

 MoUusca. This project, which is an adaptation of Mr. Watson's 

 celebrated system of botanical records, was first suggested by Mr, 

 Roebuck and adopted by this Society in 188 r, and has for its objects 

 the acquirement and systematic compilation of verified records. 



The system has now been in operation for about forty years, 

 during which time it has been steadily carried on chiefly by his own 

 personal effort and labour. There are now upwards of thirty volumes 

 in which are contained more than 60,000 separate records. The 

 conchological world was looking expectantly forward to the publica- 

 tion at an early date of a full and complete census of our British 

 species, which he, in conjunction with Prof Boycott, was preparing. 

 It is the Professor's intention to complete and issue this as a tribute 

 to the memory of Mr. Roebuck. 



The effect of this happily-conceived scheme is that England now 

 stands far ahead of any otlier country in the world for the precise 

 and accurate knowledge of its non-marine moUusca, and it may also 

 be affirmed that the knowledge of the precise distribution of tliis 

 group in the British Isles is in advance of that relating to any other 

 group of British animals, while it is highly probable that our informa- 

 tion of the dispersal of our species in other countries is greater than 

 is generally known by the foreign scientists themselves. 



The Leeds Conchological Club, a local and vigorous association, 

 with whose foundation and organization he was also intimately identi- 

 fied, owes much to his self-denying activity and devotion. The 

 appreciation of his great services and sacrifices was so universal 

 amongst the members that, as an expression of their personal respect 

 and esteem, he was spontaneously selected as Honorary Life President 



