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Society.  Botany,  however,  was  the  subject  he  selected 
for  the  final  examination  for  his  degree,  and  this  soon 
proved  to  have  the  greatest  fascination  for  him.  He 
became  a  Fellow  of  the  Linnean  Society,  and,  in  1885, 
joined  the  Watson  Club,  remaining  a  member  until  his 
death,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  period  (1890 — 2),  and 
becoming  Treasurer  in  1901. 
His  botanical  work  is  best  described  as  *  thorough,’ 
wherever  he  went  he  at  once  commenced  to  study  the 
Flora,  and  took  great  trouble  in  sending  living  specimens 
for  examination.  Another  great  trait  in  his  character 
was  his  extreme  kindness  to  young  botanists,  no  matter 
when  or  whence  they  came ;  he  would  assist  them  to  the 
utmost,  and  (as  I  can  personally  vouch)  take  great  trouble 
in  helping  them.  Of  his  great  liberality  with  his  specimens 
many  can  speak,  his  constant  remark  being  ‘  anything  I 
have  you  are  welcome  to,’  and  they  were  so  good  one  felt 
a  pleasure  in  determining  his  plants  when  he  was  in  doubt 
about  them. 
To  the  Topographical  Botany  of  the  West  of  Scotland, 
he  contributed  in  a  very  large  degree,  especially  to  the 
Inner  and  Outer  Hebrides,  besides  securing  plants  for 
other  field  botanists,  and  there  were  few  in  the  kingdom 
with  whom  he  was  not  in  correspondence. 
In  other  walks  of  life  his  letters  show  him  to  have 
been  the  kind,  courteous  and  Christian  gentleman,  and  I 
feel  sure  all  the  members  will  join  in  heartfelt  sympathy 
with  Mrs.  Somerville  and  her  children  in  their  bereave¬ 
ment. 
With  me  his  death  leaves  a  void  it  will  be  hard  to 
fill.  I  am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Somerville  and  her  daughter 
for  the  notice  that  appeared  in  the  Glasgow  Herald,  from 
which  some  of  the  foregoing  is  taken.” — A.  Bennett. 
Mr.  S.  H.  Bickham  has  kindly  consented  to  fill  the 
post  of  Treasurer,  and  it  is  hoped  that  members  will 
endeavour  to  lighten  his  work  by  sending  in  during 
January  their  subscriptions,  which  fall  due  at  the 
beginning  of  each  year. 
GEORGE  GOODE, 
Hon.  Secretary . 
June,  1907. 
