xX. PROCEEDINGS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
the Collegiate Institution in Shaw Street, and then at 
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a scholar, and 
took his degree with honours in 1862. By profession he 
was a solicitor, but, in addition to science and music, he 
took a great interest and an active part in politics and 
journalism, and was for a short time sub-editor of the 
Liverpool Daily Post. Even after he had gone back to 
the Law he continued to write occasionally for that paper 
and of late years reviews by him of scientific works have 
appeared from time to time in its columns. His deepest 
interest, however, was probably in Natural Science for 
which he had a keen love and unbounded enthusiasm. 
He had been a consistent evolutionist from the first 
- appearance of the “‘ Origin of species,” was always ready 
to discuss theoretical points, and was delighted with any 
novel examples of variation, or mimicry which he came 
across, or any other striking illustrations of Darwinian 
views. He more than once expressed to the writer his 
astonishment that comparatively so few people read 
Darwin’s works and that still fewer would take the trouble 
to thoroughly understand his meaning. 
Archer was interested in, and worked, not merely as a 
student but as a contributor to our knowledge, at Geology, 
Prehistoric Archeology, Entomology, and Conchology ; 
and he made collections in all these departments of Natural 
Science. He made various holiday excursions for the 
purpose of exploring for prehistoric remains of man, and he 
read several papers before the Liverpool Geological Society 
on flint implements from the North of Ireland and else- 
where. His collection of shells was most extensive. 
Partly inherited from a relation, largely added to by the 
dredgings sent home by his brother Surgeon-Colonel 8. 
Archer from various foreign stations, this collection of 
Mollusca owes much to the loving care and constant 
