REPORT OF COUNCIL. ix, 
In accordance with a resolution of council passed several 
years back, that short obituary notices of deceased members 
who have taken a specially prominent part in the affairs 
of the Society, should be drawn up and inserted in the 
“Proceedings” for the year, the following account of our 
late member, Mr. G. H. Morton, is here inserted. 
ec fy MORTON, F-.GS.,; F.B.G.S.F. 
DuRrING the past Session the Society has had to deplore 
_ the loss of Mr. G. H. Morton, F.G.S., F.R.G.S.I, one of its 
pioneer members. He served on the Council from its 
inauguration to the time of his death, contributed to its 
“Transactions,” and was always ready to bring his mature 
judgment and sound geological knowledge to bear when 
any subject connected with his favourite science was under 
discussion at the meetings. 
Mr. Morton was a Liverpool man, and from the time he 
left school up to a few years ago was connected with a 
business requiring and receiving from him constant care 
and attention, and one in which he attained success, yet in 
the small amount of leisure he had, he contrived to make 
himself a master of geological science, bringing to bear on 
it those very qualities which contributed to his success in 
business. He began to collect rocks and fossils, it is said, 
when seven years old. It is certain, however, that when 
sixteen years old (or about 1842), having read the article on 
Geology in “ Knight’s Store of Knowledge,” he determined 
to make a systematic study of it, and from that time until 
his death, he devoted the whole of his spare time to it. 
He studied geology and zoology from such books as 
were obtainable, but his principal study was in the field. 
Heedless of discomfort and fatigue, walking great distances 
and making the most of such scant holidays as he had, 
he laid the foundation of those habits of accurate obser- 
