PRESENTATION OF THE MEMORIAL TO DR. DARWIN. 



The memorial of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union was presented to 

 Dr. Darwin at his residence, Down, Beckenham, Kent, on 3rd Nov., 

 by a small deputation consisting of Dr. Sorby, F.R.S., of Sheffield, 

 Vice-president of the Union ; and Messrs. Geo. Brooke, ter., F.L.S., 

 of Huddersfield ; W. Cash, F.G.S., of Halifax ; J. W. Davis, F.L.S., 

 F.G.S., of Halifax ; and Thomas Hick, B.A., B.Sc, of Harrogate. 

 Prof. VV^illiamson, F.R.S., of the Queen's College, Manchester, the 

 President of the Union, was prevented from accompanying the 

 deputation by the pressure of his professional duties. The deputation 

 arrived at Mr. Darwin's residence about 1 p.m., and was received in 

 a most hearty manner by the great naturalist himself, Mrs. Darwin, 

 and other members of the family, including Miss Darwin and Mr. 

 Francis Darwin. Fortunately Mr. Darwin was in a much better 

 state of health than he has enjoyed of late, and on that account the 

 fears of the deputation that their visit might prove too fatiguing for 

 him were happily not realised. The members of the deputation were 

 introduced individually to Dr. Darwin by Dr. Sorby, and then the 

 interesting ceremony of the presentation of the address was pro- 

 ceeded with. 



Dr. Sorby stated that the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, on whose 

 behalf the deputation appeared, was a confederation of natural history 

 societies which are located in various towns in the great county of 

 York. It was originally formed in 1861, but was reorganised and 

 renamed in 1877 ; and at present there are twenty-seven societies in 

 ths Union, with an aggregate of about 1,500 members. Among the 

 objects of the Union are the investigation of the natural history of 

 the county in all its branches ; the combination and organisation of 

 individual effort ; and the cultivation and diffusion of a taste for 

 natural history pursuits. The work of the Union is done by means 

 of sections, each devoted to one department, after the plan of the 

 British Association, and from time to time reports of what has been 

 done are published in the form of Transactions. 



The address was then read by Mr. Thomas Hick, and formally 

 presented to Dr. Darwin by Dr. Sorby, who expressed the great 

 gratification he personally felt in doing so. Replying to the address. 



Dr. Darwin assured the deputation of his deep sense of the honour 

 the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union had conferred upon him on that 

 occasion, and only regretted that he had not done something more 

 deserving of such an honour. He had no idea previously that there 

 N. S., YoL. VI.— Dec, 1880. 



