lvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May I904, 



hope that a career so full of distinction, of usefulness, and of 

 sympathy might still be prolonged for much further achievement. 

 But this was not to be. Pull of honours and surrounded with 

 universal esteem and affection, he has passed ' to where beyond 

 these voices there is peace/ 



Born at Bahlingen in Baden on September 25th, 1839, Zittel 

 at the age of 18 proceeded to Heidelberg to study natural science. 

 There, under the inspiration of Bronn and C. Leonhard, he was 

 attracted more especially to geology and palaeontology. After 

 taking his degree of doctor, he spent a year in Paris, in order 

 to profit by the instructions of the illustrious Hebert, to make 

 himself practically acquainted with the rich fossil treasures of the 

 Tertiary formations of that region, and to enlarge his knowledge 

 by excursions into some of the most interesting and instructive 

 parts of France. In 1861, having completed his student years, he 

 became one of the volunteer assistants in the Geologische Reichs- 

 anstalfc of Vienna ; and two years later was formally attached to 

 the University of that city as Privat-dozent. He was then ap- 

 pointed to the position of assistant in the Hofmineralien-Kabinett, 

 which is now the great Natural History Museum. Having declined 

 the offer of a professorship at Lemberg, he in 1863, when only 

 24 years of age, accepted the Ordinary professorship of Mineralogy, 

 Geognosy, and Palaeontology at the Polytechnikum of Carlsruhe. 

 Two years thereafter he married the eldest daughter of J, W. 

 Schirmer, landscape-painter and director of the art-school, and 

 began that happy domestic union in which he rejoiced to the end 

 of his life. In the autumn of 1866 he received a great mark of 

 distinction in being invited to succeed Oppel in the chair of Palaeon- 

 tology in the University of Munich and in the keepership of the 

 National Palaeontological Collection. In 1 880 geology was added 

 to the curriculum taught by him ; and in 1890, on the death of 

 Schafhiiutl, he succeeded also to the keepership of the National 

 Geological Collection. In June 1899 his distinguished scientific 

 position was fitly recognized by his being chosen to replace 

 Pettenkofer, as President of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences 

 and Keeper of the great scientific collections of the State. It was 

 in Munich, amidst the wonderful collection of extinct animals which, 

 largely by his own patient industry, tact, and skill, has been 

 o-athered together there, that his life-work was mainly accom- 

 plished. Under his enlightened guidance that city became one of 

 the chief centres of palseontological research and progress. 



