xvii 



liis report of this cruise (" Proc. Roy. Soc," Dec. 8, 1870, vol. 19, pp. 

 152 — 161), of a former communication between the Bay of Biscay and 

 the Gulf of Lyons, probably in the later Tertiary epoch, nearly in the 

 line of the Languedoc Canal.* On giving over the charge of the 

 Mediterranean cruise to Dr. Carpenter, Gwyn Jeffreys proceeded to 

 Sicily via Malta, for the purpose of examining the shells found in the 

 later Tertiaries of Sicily and Italy, preserved in the collections at 

 Catania, Messina, Palermo, and Naples ; and of comparing these with 

 his deep-sea types. 



In 1871 he visited the United States, and, through the kindness of 

 Professor Spencer Baird, was enabled to take part in a dredging 

 cruise off the coast of New England. When the last Arctic expedi- 

 tion was fitted out in 1875, and an additional ship, the " Valorous," 

 was provided for the conveyance of stores as far as Disco Island in 

 Baffin's Bay, Gwyn Jeffreys undertook the superintendence of the deep- 

 sea explorations, for which provision was made on her return voyage. 

 His report on this cruise (" Proc. Roy. Soc," June 15, 1876, vol. 24, 

 pp. 623-636, and vol. 25, p. 92), which includes contributions from 

 the Rev. A. M. Norman, Dr. Macintosh, Dr. Carpenter and Professor 

 Dickie, shows that although (in consequence of an accident to the 

 ship) the work done was less complete than had been hoped, results 

 of great interest, especially in regard to geographical distribution, 

 were obtained. 



In 1880, on the invitation of Professor Milne-Edwards, Gwyn Jeffreys 

 joined the Expedition fitted out for the deep-sea exploration by the 

 French Government, the work of which was prosecuted in the Bay of 

 Biscay and the neighbouring portion of the Atlantic basin. After 

 that date, though constantly occupied in the prosecution of his 

 Conchological strdies, he did not again engage in marine research. 



On the death of his wife in 1881, Gwyn Jeffreys removed from Ware 

 Priory to Kensington, where he passed the last years of his life. His 

 health continued good, and the advance of years seemed but little to 

 impair his usual vigour. On the evening of January 23, having just 

 completed his 76th year, he attended a lecture given at the Royal 

 Institution by his son-in-law, Professor Moseley, of Oxford ; but on 

 the following morning was struck down by apoplexy, and died a few 

 hours afterwards. 



While possessing an excellent general acquaintance with Marine 

 Invertebrate Zoology, Gwyn Jeffreys's scientific position rested on the 

 thoroughness of his knowledge of Conchology, in which department 

 he came to hold a highly distinguished rank. He had a keen 

 eve for minute distinctions, a methodical habit of mind, scrupulous 



* In considering this suggestion, however, it should be borne in mind that all 

 marine Molhisca have free-swimming larva ; and that, as these live near the surface, 

 they would be liable to be carried into the Mediterranean by the Gibraltar current. 



VOL. XXXVIII. - d 



