58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



there were no qualified English students, of the proper age, available. 

 I cannot believe that the neglect of Palaeontology in this country is 

 due to apathy on the part of teachers, or to incapacity on the 

 part of students ; as fairly trained geologists and biologists not rarely 

 come from our educational institutions, I should anticipate that 

 equally efficient palaeontologists would be forthcoming if the same 

 opportunities of study were offered. There are, and always have 

 been, a few good palaeontologists in the country, but the number might 

 be considerably increased with advantage. It may be hoped that a 

 science, to which none is second in interest, none more prolific in its 

 additions to human knowledge, may gather fresh impetus in the 

 British Islands from the publication of an efficient manual, and that 

 the time may not be distant when British geologists, far from being 

 contented with the two well-filled volumes now ofi'ered for their 

 use by Messrs. Nicholson and Lydekker, will demand a still more 

 extensive Avork, on the scale of the superb Palaeontological Compen- 

 dium now being published by our distinguished Foreign Member, 

 Prof. V. Zittel, a book that, I fear, no English publisher at present 

 would feel justified in undertaking. By the work now brought out 

 Professor Nicholson has worthily repaid this Society for the award 

 to him of the Lyell Medal two years ago. 



The other work to which a passing reference is due is that by 

 our (I deeply regret to say) late Foreign Correspondent, Dr. Mel- 

 chior Neumayr, "Die Stiimme des Thierreichs." , I have already, 

 in a short obituar}' notice, endeavoured to express some sense of 

 the loss to geology caused by the death of this distinguished Palae- 

 ontologist. In this, his last and greatest work, he endeavoured to 

 bring together the results of many years' labours and researches, 

 and to show; the lines of descent that can be traced amongst ancient 

 forms of life. In the only volume published, he has treated of the 

 Protozoa, Coelenterata, Echinodermata, Annelida, and Molluscoida, 

 besides writing several introductory chapters full of suggestive re- 

 marks. 



My own knowledge of the very intricate questions treated in 

 Neumayr's work does not justify my expressing g,ny view except 

 admiration ; but I may, perhaps, quote from one of the first of 

 living palaeontologists, Prof. v. Zittel, whose opinion is entitled to 

 attention. He writes thus, " In the first volume of the ' Stiimme 

 des Thierreichs,' which appeared a few months ago, Neumayr 

 showed remarkable mastery of the collected data relating to his 

 subject; new observations, surprising applications of known facts, 



