174 Scientific Intelligence. 



in microscopical petrography. In the present case, the author 

 has in addition extended the recent works of Federov and Becke, 

 added new methods of his own and produced a volume which 

 will be gratefully received by working petrologists. It is now 

 possible on a single section of a microlitic soda lime feldspar to 

 determine within close boundaries not only its chemical composi- 

 tion but its orientation as well. It is thus to be hoped that the 

 indefinite word plagioclase will henceforth be used in much re- 

 stricted manner. 



The volume is embellished by eight beautiful plates in color 

 showing iif stereographic projection all the relations between the 

 optical properties of the soda lime feldspars and their crystal 

 form, thus adding greatly to its value. l. v. p. 



Obituary. 



George Huntington Williams died at Utica, N. Y., on the 

 12th of July, at the age of 38. He was born at Utica, and grad- 

 uated from the Utica Free Academy, entered Amherst College in 

 1874 and took his first degree with the class of 1878. While in 

 college he caught his enthusiasm for geology from his Professor, 

 B. K. Emerson, and spent a year in graduate studies at Amherst. 

 He then went to Berlin, where he perfected his knowledge of 

 German, and to Heidelberg where he was a devoted pupil of 

 Rosenbusch and took the Ph.D. degree in 1882. In the following 

 year he became a fellow in Johns Hopkins University where he 

 was appointed Professor of Inorganic Geology in 1885, which 

 position he still held at the time of his death. 



Petrography and Crystallography were the special departments 

 of geology which he cultivated, and his text-book on Crystallog- 

 raphy is a lucid exposition of the methods of research in this line. 

 At the time of his death he was at work on a treatise on the 

 Microscopic Structure of American Crystalline rocks. He was 

 one of the best authorities on these subjects in America, and 

 served as one of the judges of award in the department of Miner- 

 alogy at the Columbian Exposition. His untiring devotion last 

 summer at Chicago to the duties thus put upon him, it is feared 

 may have laid the foundation of the disease which overcame his 

 otherwise vigorous constitution. Professor Williams was an 

 attractive teacher and had a peculiarly pleasing manner in both 

 private conversation and public address, and the animated and 

 clear descriptions he gave of even the most technical subjects 

 went far to interest his hearers in any topic he chose to speak 

 upon. His broad education, attractive personal qualities and 

 thorough acquaintance with the facts of his science gave him a 

 prominent place among his fellows, and although still a young 

 man he was rapidly rising to honor and fame. His loss will be 

 keenly felt by all who knew him. 



