40 • PEOCEEDTXGS OE THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



an enduring monument of his extensive knowledge and energetic 

 industry. He was zealous in promoting, by lectures and every 

 personal effort, tlie advancement of science in his own neighbour- 

 hood. He was elected a Pellow of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh 

 in 1855, of this Society in 1859, and of the Soyal Society of London 

 in 1879, and he received acknowledgments from several foreign 

 scientific societies. The Wollaston Medal was awarded to him in 

 1878. 



His health began to fail nearly a year ago, and, after a lingering 

 illness, he expired on J^ovember 17th last. But even suffering 

 could not quench his enthusiasm for science. One evening, some 

 months since, when death seemed to be very near, he roused himself 

 and set to work on the revision of a proof-sheet, deteimined that, 

 so far as lay in his power, he would not leave his task unfinished : 

 and the last letter which he ever wrote was on the occasion of pre- 

 senting to the Society a lock of Dr. William Smith's hair. 



He was not rarely present at various scientific gatherings, where 

 his stalwart form, cast in northern mould, distinguished' him from 

 the crowd- while his hearty tones and his genial manners made him 

 ever a welcome guest. Those who have had the privilege of his 

 friendship valued him not only for his great special knowledge, 

 but also for his wide general culture and his sincere earnestness of 

 character. 



Seaeles Yaleis^tust; "Wood was born on February 4, 1830. Son 

 of a geologist, Searles Y, Wood, Senior, our former Fellow, so well 

 known, to mention but one thing, for his great work on the Plio- 

 cene Mollusca, his attention was early directed to this science, and 

 a community of interest, doubtless, formed one of the ties which 

 bound father and son with a more than common affection. On the 

 death of the former, his son undertook the duty of Treasurer to the 

 Palseontographical Society, with which the two names will ever be 

 inseparably connected. Mr, Searles Yalentine Wood was brought 

 up to the law, and practised for some years as a solicitor at Wood- 

 bridge, in Suffolk, but ultimately gave up his profession in order that 

 he might devote himself wholly to scientific work. Tertiary and 

 Post-tertiary geology was the chief subject of his study ; and in 1864 

 he undertook, in company with Mr. Harmer, a careful examination 

 of the Pliocene and later deposits of the east of England. These were 

 all laid down with conscientious minuteness on the Ordnance Survey 

 Map, Mr. Searles Wood taking as his share Essex and nearly the 

 whole of Suffolk. The result of this work, so far as relates to the 

 Newer Pliocene deposits (as they were termed by Mr. Wood), has 

 been communicated to this Society in two elaborate memoirs, pub- 

 lished in the volumes for 1880 and 1882, But numerous minor 

 papers, in addition to these, were the result of Mr. Wood's untiring 

 industry. Of course, in questions so difficult as are almost all those 

 relating to the so-called Glacial Period, it is not to be expected that 

 every conclusion of Mr. Wood's will find acceptance with his feUow 



