xlviii PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCTETT. [vol. IxxVll, 



It"" is an additional pleasure to me to receive this Medal from 

 the hands of one who has done work of prime importance in 

 •elucidating Indian tectonics. 



AWAED OF THE MUECHISOX MeDAL. 



The Peesidext then handed the Murchison Medal, awarded 

 to Edgae Steeli]s^g Cobbold, F.G.S., to Dr. Heebeet Lap- 

 AVOETH for transmission to the recipient, addi'essing him as 

 follows : — 



Dr. Lapwoeth,^ — 



The Council has awarded the Murchison Medal of the Society 

 to Mr. Cobbold, in recognition of his services in advancing geo- 

 logical science. 



At the instigation of your father, Mr. Cobbold undertook a 

 detailed study of the Cambrian I'ocks of Shropshire, and for many 

 years has industriously worked among these ancient rocks, under 

 manj^ difficulties well known to those acquainted with the district. 

 Owing to the paucity of natural or artificial sections, he undertook 

 extensive excavations to obtain his observations, and trained him- 

 self to become a skilled pala3ontologist. He has, consequently, 

 been able to publish work of the highest importance to the 

 students of Cambrian stratigraphy, and has established the Cam- 

 brian strata of Shropshire as the type-sequence for the Cambrian 

 faunas of this country. Besides this, his discovery of the Proto- 

 lemis fauna, and of fossils in beds of older date, previously known 

 'Onh' in distant regions, especially in Xorth America, has supplied 

 useful evidence for the correlation of the strata and the establish- 

 ment of faunistic provinces. 



The difficulties in the way of the non-professional geologist are 

 increasing, his opportunities are diminishing, and the amount of 

 previous study needful before useful Avork can be accomplished 

 grows greater continuously. The number of workers of this class 

 is now much fewer than in the days of the founder of this Medal, 

 and this is a matter for regret; but Mr. Cobbold has shown that 

 A^aluable work can still be carried out by one who is not, profession - 

 -ally, the holder of a geological appointment. His example will, I 

 Jiope, encourage others to do likewise with equal success. 



