Geological Society of London. 183 



sum of £25. in recognition of liis valuable contributions to palaeontology, especially 

 as regards his investigations on the Fossil Mammalia of Nebraska and the Saaria of 

 the United States of America. 1 hese vast and, in comparison with our own country, 

 but little-explored territories have for some years past yielded a harvest of fossil 

 vertebrate remains of exceeding richness, of which we have no example here. How 

 well this harvest is being garnered by our Transatlantic confrei es the flood of memoirs 

 published by them during the last quarter of a century bears witness. Amongst these 

 scientific labourers in the pala?ontological harvest-field. Dr. J. Leidy has held a fore- 

 most place. Careful in observing, accurate in recording, cautious in inferring, his 

 work has the high merit which trustworthiness always imparts. The well-nigh 

 astounding number of papers written by him between 1845 and 1883, amounting to 

 187, his Reports on the " Extinct Vertebrate Fauna of the Western Territories," his 

 "Synopsis of the Extinct Mammalia of North America," and his "Cretaceous 

 Ileptiles of the United States," testify to the fertility of his pen. 



Professor Flower, in reply, said: — Mr. President, — As I have profited so deeply 

 by Dr. Leidy's palaeontological writings, and also have the pleasure of his personal 

 friendship 1 was much gratified by his request, communicated to me by telegraph a 

 few days ago, that I would represent him on this occasion, and receive from your 

 hands the award which the Council has so worthily bestowed. By the same means of 

 communication, he mentions the interesting incident, that it was by Sir Charles Lj'ell's 

 advice, given to him in Philadelphia about thirty years ago, that he was induced to 

 abandon the study of medicine and take up palpeontology. 



The following letter has been received from Dr. Leidy : — 



" Philadelphia, Pa., 1802, Filbert St., Feb. 7th, 1884 : My dear Sir,— I have this 

 minute received your note of Jan. 2oth, and hasten to replv, that there may be no 

 delay in my answer, for the Anniversary Meeting of Feb. 15th. I was equally sur- 

 prised and delighted at the action of the Coimcil of the Geological Society in award- 

 ing to me the Lyell Medal and its accompaniment. Such approbation of my services 

 I regard as rich compensation added to the pleasure derived from my labours. I must 

 add that I feel as if Sir Charles Lyell himself was expressing satisfaction, in con- 

 sideration of my having complied with his wish, when thirty years ago, in my own home 

 here, he said he hoped I would devote my time to Paleontology, instead of Medicine. 

 Please present to the Geological Society my warmest thanks for the honour it has 

 conferred upon me. — With sincere regards, Joseph Leidy. — Mr. Warrington W. 

 Smyth, For. Sec. Geol. Soc." 



In presenting to Prof. C. J^apworth, F.G.S., the balance of the Lyell Geological 

 Fund, the President said: — Prof. Lapworth, — The Council has awarded to you the 

 balance of the proceeds of the Lyell Donation Fund in recognition of the value of 

 your researches into the palteontology and physical structure of the older rocks of Great 

 Britain, carried on frequently under unfavom'able circumstances and to the injury of 

 your health, and to aid you in similar investigations. Your papers on " The Girvan 

 Succession," " The Moffat Series," published in our Journal, and " The Graptolites," 

 and " The Secret of the Highlands," contributed to the Geological Magazine, 

 were the outcome of an extremely laborious and detailed exploration of the districts 

 to which they refer — an exploration in conducting which you spared no pains and 

 shrank from no hardships. JSTo one who desires to know the structure of these dis- 

 tricts can safely omit a careful study of these very instructive papers. 



Professor Lapworth, in reply, said : — Mr. President, — I am very grateful to the 

 Council of the Geological Society for this proof of their continued interest in my 

 geological work, and to yourself. Sir, for the generous and kindly manner in which 

 you have spoken of what I have done. I am at present too little recovered to hope 

 that I shall soon be in a position to resume my studies of the ancient British rocks 

 and fossils ; but you may rest assured that immediately my ordinary health is restored, 

 I shall of necessity gravitate again, if I may so express myself, to the old familiar 

 fields. As this award has been made me from the Lyell bequest, I shall hold it both 

 a pleasure and a duty to endeavour to devote it to working out a few fresh facts for 

 discussion in this Society, along the lines laid down in the " Principles." Whether 

 that endeavour will ever be realized is for the future to determine. Even the most I 

 ever hope to accomplish mil be to show, that, vast as is the mass of geological 

 material hitherto collected, how insignificant it actually is in comparison with that 

 which remains for discovery, and what a mighty future waits that great science to 

 which we are all devoted. 



The President then handed to Professor Bonney, D.Sc, F.E.S., for transmission 



