Bn Wemoriam. 
: ROBERT MORTIMER. 
Tue East Riding of Yorkshire has lost one of its most distinguished 
scientists by the sudden demise of Robert Mortimer, who was found 
dead in bed on April 12th. Born at Fimber, in the year 1829, in 
the quaint old house which is figured and described by his friend, 
the Rev. E. Maule Cole, M.A., F.G.S., vicar of Wetwang-with- 
Fimber, in one of the volumes of ‘Old Yorkshire,’ the subject of this 
notice, though anee meaty uneducated, turned his attention early in 
life to th ts which surround his native village. 
The investigation became a hobby, and, for miles round, every field and 
dale was diligently and carefully examined and tested by sections, 
with the result that in 1886 he published at his own expense a map, 
on the six-inch Ordnance scale, entitled, ‘ A Restoration of the Ancient 
British Entrenchments and Tumuli, also the Surface Geology and 
modern enclosure of Fimber on the Yorkshire Wolds.’ The writer 
bears willing testimony to the accuracy of the delineations, which 
are far in advance of anything that has ever been published in any 
part of England. 
In conjunction with his brother, Mr. J. R. Mortimer, now residing 
at Driffield, he assisted in opening some 300 tumuli on the Yorkshire 
Wolds, the contents of which are preserved in their excellent museum 
Driffield (see ‘The Antiquary,’ July 189r). 
Many of the geological specimens were collected and most of 
them dressed by Robert Mortimer, who, in addition to his 
archeological tastes, was an ardent though self-taught geologist. 
In fact, he has on his account surveyed carefully, and mapped, the 
difficult geological ground on the North and West sides of the 
whether these maps will ever be published, in view of the recent 
Government geological survey, is doubtful ; still, all praise is due to — 
a man, who, with limited resources and little learning, succeeded 
fairly in deciphering what to trained officials was no easy task. 
In addition to the pursuits above mentioned, Robert Mortimer took 
great interest in the preservation of the old dialect of the Wolds, 
which, unfortunately, under the advance of modern education, is fast 
disappearing. To the writer’s knowledge he made extensive notes 
on the words and phrases which were current in his boyhood, and 
possibly these may yet be published i” memoriam. Though the 
brothers Mortimer have not attached to their name so wide and 
unenviable an one as ‘ boycotting,’ it is a fact that farm lads commonly 
speak of flint arrowheads, celts, etc., which they pick up in ploughing, 
as ‘ Mortimers.’—E.M.C. Naturalist, 
