ANNIVERSARY MEETING. — WOLLASTON MEDAL. XXV 



consideration upon the working men of the Continent, powerfully 

 contributes to maintain and excite the true zeal for scientific re- 

 searches." 



The President, Col. Portlock, having taken the Chair, proceeded 

 to deliver the Balance of the proceeds of the Wollaston Donation 

 Fund to Mr. S. P. Woodward, addressing him in the following 

 words : — 



Mr. Woodward, — x\s the Council has once before presented you 

 with the proceeds, and as on that occasion your claims for such a 

 distinction were fully explained, it is not necessary that I should 

 now dwell at any great length on your general merits ; but as the 

 supplement to your ' ?Janual of the MoUusca,' which was the work 

 to which the Council more particularly directed its attention on the 

 former occasion, has been, since its first award, published, I cannot 

 but refer to it, as having fully maintained the high character of the 

 first two parts, and more than that, having brought before the stu- 

 dent certain elements in the study of natural history which are fre- 

 quently overlooked in the discussions of speculative geology. The 

 comparison, for example, between the numbers of recent and fossil 

 species is full of interest, and the result obtained — namely, that the 

 number of species of shell-bearing Mollusca which are known to 

 have appeared on the earth and passed away, is to the number of 

 species now living nearly as 9 to 10 — cannot be learnt without ex- 

 citing in the mind very interesting speculation. The geographical 

 distribution of the Mollusca is also a most interesting and valuable 

 addition to the work ; and when we look at the completeness which 

 you have thus given to the work, at the expense of much deep re- 

 search and most arduous labour, we cannot but admire the modesty 

 which has given it to the world under the simple appellation of a 

 Rudimentary Treatise. Nor is it amongst ourselves alone that the 

 merits of your work have been acknowledged, as it has already be- 

 come a work of reference in the hands of Foreign naturalists, including 

 that well-known palaeontologist, Bronn. In deciding upon this 

 award, the Council had also in their consideration the work you have 

 undertaken on the Radiata ; and whilst acknowledging the great 

 value of your * Manual of the Mollusca,' have been anxious to assist 

 you in the preparation of this new work, which they fully anticipate 

 will in your hands be equally successful. Let me also, Mr. Wood- 

 ward, whilst placing the proceeds in your hands, and thus fulfillmg 

 my duty as President, be allowed to express my personal feelings of 

 respect and regard for one whose progress in science I have watched 

 with interest for many years, and whose ability, industry, and genuine 

 modesty I have ever appreciated and admired. 



In reply, — Mr. Woodward expressed himself much honoured by 

 the assistance and encouragement given him bv the President and 

 Council of the Geological Society. He was anxious to devote him- 

 self to the preparation of a Manual of the Radiated Animals, as they 

 were much studied by geologists ; while the only special work on 



