1 PEOCEEDIA^GS OP THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 1899, 



between 3000 and 4000 specimens of Fossil Fishes and Eeptilian 

 remains. Of the former, about 40 genera and species are new to 

 science, in addition to many rare and unique examples. Within 

 the past few years, the principal portion of my collection has been 

 added to the iS"ational Collections in Cromwell Eoad, while another 

 portion enriches the geological collection in the Edinburgh Museum. 



I avail myself of the present opportunity to acknowledge my 

 gratitude to the many eminent palaeontologists, to whose generous 

 assistance and encouragement I owe so much of my success. To 

 Dr. Traquair my thanks are specially due, for the valuable assist- 

 ance and friendly aid accorded to me during the past 18 or 20 

 years. Not only has he assisted in naming specimens, but he has 

 contributed to science a number of papers and separate monographs 

 devoted to the elucidation of the structure and affinities of new 

 and rare genera and species of Fossil Fishes from my collection. 



I shall look upon the Award not only as bearing the stamp of 

 approval and generous recognition of the Council of the Society for 

 my past services to Palaeontological Science, but also as an addi- 

 tional incentive to me to continue with renewed energy those 

 researches the pursuit of which has been to me a labour of love 

 for so many years. It will be not only my aim, but my highest 

 ambition, in the time that yet remains to me, to contribute to our 

 common science results that will be of greater scientific value than 

 anything that I have hitherto been able to offer, and to render myself 

 more worthy of the distinction which has been conferred upon me. 



AWAED OF THE BlGSBT MeDAL. 



In handing the Bigsby Medal (awarded to Prof. T. W. Edge- 

 worth David, E.A., F.G.S.) to Prof. J. W. Jxjdd, C.B., LL.D., 

 F.R.S., for transmission to the recipient, the Peesident addressed 

 him in the following words : — 



Professor Jtjdd, — 



As, after studying under Sir Joseph Prestwich at Oxford, Prof. 

 David had the advantage of attending your courses at the Eoyal 

 College of Science, it is fitting that you should receive the Bigsby 

 Medal for him. 



