Sir Michael Foster. lxxxi 
energetic advocacy that Cambridge to-day possesses a flourishing agricultural 
school, and it was a great source of delight to him when the University 
determined to follow his lead and provide for the teaching of agriculture on 
a scientific and practical basis. 
Zoology shared with botany his active interest ; it was due largely to his 
co-operation with Ray Lankester, and his active support, that the Marine 
Biological Research Laboratory at Plymouth came into existence; an instru- 
ment of research which, with other kindred establishments, has proved of 
the utmost value to the progress of zoology. 
His power of grasping and presenting to others a mass of complicated 
detail was remarkable. As senior Secretary he had for many years to bring 
the business to be dealt with before the Council of the Royal Society, and 
through his skilful presentations of the facts, the Meetings ended with but 
few arrears. He held his own views tenaciously, but accepted an adverse 
vote with good humour. He was keenly alive to the desirability of keeping 
the Council in close touch with the Society, and it was largely owing to him 
that the existing custom of the presentation of an annual report by the 
Council to the Fellows was introduced. 
Foster was a delightful companion, full of humour, with an irresistible 
bubbling over kind of laugh, and a twinkle in his eye which was most 
infectious. He was excellent as an after-dinner speaker, and was usually 
expected to speak; frequently, some unexpected humorous but never 
ill-natured allusion to some distinguished person at the dinner, would cause 
roars of laughter; almost as frequently the laugh would be directed against 
himself. 
Up to the very last he was at work, up to the last he retained his gift of 
humorous speaking, and on the very day on which he died (January 28, 
. 1907), he had made an excellent speech in London at the Meeting of the 
British Science Guild. 
This last public appearance was a fitting end to a great career. There have 
been many greater scientific men than Foster. It is hardly too much to say 
that no man ever devoted himself more whole-heartedly to science, and that if 
science can be served by strengthening the influence and promoting the 
spread of the scientific spirit, few have done it better service. 
