Correspondence — A Bust to Prof. 0. Heer. 143 



philosophical chair in his native town, where he exhibited all the 

 high qualities of bis exalted intellect. 



It is equally well known that he interested himself all his life in 

 our scientific and literary institutions as well as the intellectual and 

 material development of our ancient Republic. Many of his 

 writings, unknown doubtless elsewhere, wei*e received here, and the 

 Society for the Advancement of Art founded by him still continues 

 a work to which he was devoted. 



Even when this monument to his memory shall have been raised 

 on foreign soil, Geneva will show its gratitude towards those who 

 have taken the initiative in this demonstration, and will honour those 

 who take part in it. 



It is with this firm assurance that the Committee at Geneva is 

 formed to collect subscriptions. 



The inauguration of the memorial is projected for the 3rd of 

 August, 1887, that being the centenary of H. B. de Saussure's 

 ascent of Mont Blanc. There is therefore no time to be lost that it 

 may be finished by that date. It is important that the Initiative 

 Committee at Cbamounix should know as soon as possible the sum 

 they have at their disposal, in order to decide what form the monu- 

 ment should take. Alphonse Favre, 



6, Rue des Granges, Geneva, President of the Swiss 



20/A December, 1885. Geological Commission. 



A MONUMENT FOR PROFESSOR OSWALD HEER OF ZURICH. 



Sir, — Two years have passed since Death carried off one of the 

 most eminent naturalists of our age — Oswald Heer. He died on the 

 27th of September, 1883. The fitting moment seems to have arisen 

 to render Dr. Heer a public acknowledgment and to raise a lasting 

 monument to his memory. We are glad to be able to inform you that 

 a sculptor of Zurich, M. Horbst, has modelled a bust in clay, which 

 gives the naturalist's expression in the most pleasing manner. 



The work of Heer was wide-spread. Although truly Swiss at 

 heart, and studying with delight the primitive history and flora of 

 his native land, his researches extended far beyond the limits of his 

 own country. He had become one of the highest authorities on the 

 domain of vegetable paleontology, and from all parts of the world, 

 from the islands of Sunda and from " hyperborean " lands, from 

 Portugal and Eastern Siberia, from the New World as well as the 

 Old, he gathered materials for his researches, and specimens came 

 for identification. The works of Heer on the fossil flora of the 

 Polar regions have placed him among the foremost ranks as one of 

 the founders of modern botanical geography ; for to him, and him 

 alone, is due the merit of having discovered, by studying the mar- 

 vellous Tertiary flora of Greenland, Spitzbergen, and Arctic America, 

 facts of the utmost importance to science. His name will perpetu- 

 ally remain united with those who have explored Arctic regions, 

 his researches will long form the basis of our knowledge of pre- 

 historic climates. 



Feeling assured of the eminently international character of Heer's 



