334 IN MEMORIAM—GEORGE ROBERT VINE, 
region and was naturally attracted by the number of fossils obtainable 
from the neighbouring quarries. Thirty-five or forty years ago, then 
he commenced that work in Geology which only terminated with his 
life last month. His collection of Mollusca from Central Ireland is 
almost unique, and of these specimens he was always very proud. 
Twenty years ago his attention was directed from general to 
microscopic Geology. In exchange for a number of theological 
magazines, he received, from the Rev. W. Howchin, of Morpeth, a 
series of samples of washings from Carboniferous Limestone quarries in 
South Scotland and Northumberland. With characteristic enthusiasm 
he exclaimed, after glancing at the material through a little pocket 
glass, ‘ Here is a new world to me!’ In an incredibly short time he 
had become familiar with the commoner forms of Foraminifera, 
under the generous guidance of Mr. Howchin. The Polyzoa 
puzzled him, and, upon making a few enquiries, he was told that 
little was known about this branch of work and that he had better 
commence investigations for himself. Phillips’ Geology of Yorkshire, 
McCoy’s Carboniferous Fossils, and other works were all consulted, 
but with little success, and so, at last, he commenced in ‘Science 
Gossip, for 1577, a few papers summarising the state of knowledge - 
on Fossil Polyzoa, and offering a few of his own observations on the 
matter. Naturally, these were not very exhaustive, but they brought 
him into correspondence with Mr. John Young, of Glasgow, who 
helped him with a vast amount of information and an almost 
exhaustless supply of Polyzoal material. About this time, he became 
acquainted with Mr. Geo. Shrubsole, of Pee whose death was 
also announced i in the September ‘N aturalist.’ An exhaustive study of 
the ale@ocoryn on between them, a study 
to which the late Dr. Pamcan contributed in no small degree. 
Mr. Vine was now fairly established in the study of Fossil Polyzoa, 
and, as the years went by, he was in constant correspondence with — 
such authorities as the Rev. T. Hincks, the late Mr. G. Busk, 
_ Dr. Lindstrom, Dr, Pergens, Mr. E. O. Ulrich, Miss E. C. Jelly, at 
Mr. A. W. Waters, and many others, some of whom are still leftto 
fom: the taking of such an one from their ante circle. - His 
British Association Reports are too well k own cy 
for such work lives to. help future students in the intricate path 
