288 OUtuary—Prof. Bunker. 



Mr. Laidlay presented a collection of shells to the British Museum, 

 and was also a donor of coins and other objects of ai'cliEeological 

 interest to the Nation. He died March 8th, 1885, and leaves a family 

 of five sons and two daughters. 



PROFESSOR RUDOLF WILHELM DUNKER. 



We regret to record the loss of this veteran German geologist, who 

 died, after a brief illness, on March 13th, 1885, at Marburg, Hesse 

 Cassel. 



Wilhelm Dunker was born at Eschwege, on 21st February, 1809, 

 and after the usual studies at the Gymnasia of Cassel and Einteln, he 

 entered upon a course of practical mining at Oberkirchen, etc. His 

 first scientific work was the investigation of the Wealden formation, 

 a task not before attempted in North Germany. Having passed his 

 examination in practical mining, he entered the University of Got- 

 tingen in 1830, where he studied under Blumenbach and other 

 famous professors. 



Having completed his education, he returned to Oberkirchen in 

 1837, and resumed his researches in the Wealden, etc. (see vol. i. 

 Studien Gottingischen Vereins S. 291 ff.). In 1838 he graduated in 

 Jena. In 1839 he accepted the lectureship of Mineralogy and 

 Geology in the Polytechnic School of Cassel. In April, 1840, Prof. 

 Dunker was married to his cousin, Elise Sommer. At Cassel 

 he prepared his Wealden Memoir for publication (drawing the 

 plates with his own hands), and being assisted by Hermann von 

 Meyer, who described the Eeptilian remains. Whilst engaged on this 

 work he conceived the idea of issuing a palseontological journal, 

 which he soon after commenced with H. von Meyer (known as the 

 Palceontographica), Theodor Fischer of Cassel having undertaken its 

 publication. This work has now been in constant issue for 35 years, 

 and contains a vast number of valuable memoirs. 



In 1854 Dunker was chosen Professor and Director of the Mineralo- 

 gical Institute in Marburg, and in 1880 he was elected to the Chair 

 of Mineralogy in that University, where he resided until his death. 

 He was the author of about 70 memoirs, chiefly upon the Mollusca, 

 of which also he possessed a fine collection. He died at the age of 

 seventy-six years, universally regretted by all his friends and fellow- 

 professors. 



nvnisc:H]XjXi.A-iTEOTJS. 



Dr. Fkanz Eitteb von Hauek, Director of the Geological Survey 

 of Austria, with which he has been connected since its earliest 

 institution, has been appointed by the Emperor of Austria to the 

 post of Intendant of the Imperial Natural History Museum of 

 Vienna, lately vacant by the death of Dr. Ferdinand von Hochstetter. 

 The colleagues of Dr. von Hauer presented him with a sympathetic 

 address of regret at his quitting the Survey and of congratulation on 

 his appointment, and they have resolved to have a portrait of him 

 painted by a distinguished artist, which is to be placed in the Museum 

 of the Survey at Vienna. 



