252 Obituary. 



substantial character than is generally found in such publications 

 and embrace much that is of a valuable scientific nature. Many 

 of the articles were presented at the New Orleans meeting of the 

 American Horticultural Society, and are from the pens of men 

 well qualified to bring scientific dignity to such discussions and 

 publications. That science is gradually being more and more 

 appealed to by such Societies, becoming daily more closely 

 identified with their work, and more of a recognized necessity in 

 meeting the practical problems of the horticulturist, is a source 

 of great gratification, and progress in this direction cannot be 

 made more directly and efficiently than by such efforts as are 

 apparent in the Report now before us. 



We have received a little reprint from the Tenth Annual Report 

 of the Montreal Horticultural Society, On the Establishment of a 

 Botanic Garden in Montreal, containing a large amount of useful 

 information concerning botanic gardens in other parts of the 

 world, of which it enumerates a total of 187. It is well worthy of 

 careful perusal. Its chief object appears to be to supply arguments 

 showing the necessity of a Botanic Garden in Montreal. The 

 subject is dealt with in all its aspects, and, aside from the purely 

 scientific value of such institutions, which it clearly demonstrates, 

 not the least valuable is the very interesting influence which 

 gardens of such a character are found to have upon the public, 

 in establishing higher ideals of nature and a better moral senti- 

 ment. 



XI. Obituary. 



H. Milne Edwards. 



After a life of eminent service as one of the leading naturalists 

 of his day Dr. H. Milne Edwards died at Paris, July 9th, in the 

 eighty-fifth year of his age. He was elected an honorary member 

 of Montreal Natural History Society in 1852. 



Though resident in Paris from an early age, he was born at 

 Bruges, Belgium, of English parentage, in the year 1800. His 

 investigations began at an early age and led directly up to the 

 crowning work of his life, his " Comparative Physiology and Ana- 

 tomy," upon the completion of which, in 1881, he was presented 

 with a medal, subscriptions to which were contributed by men of 

 science in all parts of the world, as a modest tribute to his high 



