Vol. 59.] ANNIVERSARY MEETING — LYELL FUND. li 



wanting, both in courtesy to yourself and in loyalty to Mr. Buckman, 

 if I did not give the gist of his remarks. 



Mr. Buckman is aware that his paleeontological work, especially 

 that relating to Ammonites, has met with considerable criticism. 

 He is therefore particularly grateful for this recognition on the 

 part of the Council of the Geological Society. The principles that 

 have animated his work on the Ammonites have been applied 

 by him also to the Brachiopods. They are, in fact, principles that 

 are working a vast revolution in the whole of palaeontology. The 

 interpretation of the phenomena of homceomorphy — that is to say, the 

 appearance of species, at the same or different periods, perplexingly 

 similar in outward form though descended from different stocks — 

 will lead to much more exact identification of fossils. This 

 preciser palaeontology, in conjunction with field-work among the 

 Secondary rocks on the lines indicated in Mr. Buckman's last paper 

 contributed to this Society, will, he is confident, have a distinct 

 practical value, since it is bound to throw light on the position 

 of concealed coal-basins. Unfortunately, such wealth as may be 

 obtained in consequence of this purely scientific research will, 

 under present laws, fall not to the nation but to landowners : 

 least of all will the students, to whose researches it is due, receive 

 any material benefit — except, perhaps, such an Award as this, for 

 which I have to offer to you, Sir, Mr. Buckman's sincere thanks. 



