Alfred Merle Norman. 



xlix 



by G. 0. Sars. In 1868, Bowerbank gave the name Normania to a genus of 

 sponges, which occupies a rather peculiar position, seeing that Norman, in 

 whose paper Bowerbank's definition is incorporated, himself points out 

 Brady's previous use of the same generic name. In 1870, Axel Boeck chose 

 Normania to designate a genus ef Amphipoda, but this being evidently pre- 

 occupied, was changed by Jules Bonnier into Normanion in 1893. In 1880, 

 Brady had established Norvianella for one of the Copepoda, and, finally 

 Dr. Harmer, in ' Nature' for November 7, 1918, after referring to the many 

 services to science rendered by Norman, says : " Another of his specially 

 noteworthy discoveries was the enigmatic encrusting organism obtained by 

 him in the neighbourhood of Madeira, and afterwards named Mcrlia normani 

 in his honour by Mr. E. Kirkpatrick." 



In 1895 Norman was persuaded to migrate from Burnmoor to the far 

 more important rectory of Houghton-le- Spring. The transfer of his 

 innumerable and precious natural history specimens was a source of con- 

 siderable anxiety. In his new sphere, besides being rural dean, he needed 

 the help of three or even four curates, and though he delighted in horticul- 

 ture, a rectory garden of seven acres was almost an embarrassment of riches. 

 After a few years even his robust constitution felt the strain, so that during 

 the present century he has resided at Berkhamsted, in a roomy house such 

 as his Library and collections required, but with a more manageable garden 

 for retired leisure. 



During this period, after waiting patiently but in vain for further material, 

 from 1887 to 1912, he completed, so far as practicable, his account of the 

 eccentric cirripede, Synagoga mira, which has been taken by Gruvel as type 

 of a new family Synagodidee. How little inclined he was by retiring to 

 lead a life of indolence may be judged by various other publications. Among 

 these is the important volume on the " Crustacea of Devon and Cornwall," 

 in collaboration with Thomas Scott, LL.D., F.L.S. Furthermore, on 

 February 15, 1907, he writes: "I am now engaged in preparing a. paper on 

 the Marine Mollusca of Madeira .... My joint report with Brady on the 

 Crustacea of Northumberland and Durham is passing through the post. On 

 April 27 I have to deliver a President's Address for the Herts Nat. Hist. 



Soc I am thinking of a paper with diagrams of types of freshwater 



Crustacea in the hope of stirring up some observers in the county I 



have just been instrumental in starting here a society of literature, science, 

 and art. . . . Then there has just been started a clerical book club of which 

 they unfortunately made me librarian." Among the results of his visit to- 

 Madeira in 1898, he had already published a short paper on the Land 

 Isopods of that Island. The second presidential address which he delivered 

 to the Hertfordshire Society at Watford, April 25, 1908, gave the inland 

 students of science a refreshing story of maritime exploration, under the 

 heading " The Celtic Province, its extent and its Marine Fauna." During the 

 last few years the necessity for employing an amanuensis checked the flow 

 of his correspondence. But apart from occasional sorrows, it seems true tO' 



