IN MEMORIAM : WALTER PERCY SLADEN, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S. 263 
of these interesting creatures, and the foundation laid of his 
future extensive and minute knowledge of the group. The steady, 
quiet work of this and following years was a real preparation for 
the production of his magnum opus on the Challenger Asteroidea, 
which secured for him a foremost place among echinodermists of 
the world. 
It has been said that he nev^er attended a regular academic 
course of instruction on the branch of science in which he became 
eminent ; that is also true of many of the most eminent men of 
every place and age ; but he learned his lesson in the true 
university, that of Nature, and not only knew the dry bones of 
his subject but also, what is not so common, he knew the 
structure, habits, and habitats of the subjects of his loving 
study. Nor were preliminary and auxiliary studies wanting : his 
practical acquaintance with chemistr}^ botany, zoology, and 
modern languages was more than elementary, and his skill in 
microscopic manipulation and drawing was great. 
Percy Sladen came of an old Yorkshire family which for 
generations was associated with the Halifax district ; in his 
native town he was held in great respect, and held several 
honourable scientific positions. The Halifax Literary and Philo- 
sophical Society found in him a most efficient secretary; he was 
connected intimately with the Halifax Scientific Society (mainly 
founded through the instrumentality of Dr. Sollas, F.R.S., of 
Oxford), and rendered valuable scientific service as an honorary 
curator of the Halifax Museum. In all the work he undertook 
he acquired the character and reputation of being painstaking, 
thorough, and always reliable ; superficiality and pretence he 
always detested. A Fellow of the Geological, Zoological, and 
Linn^ean Societies of London, he was for ten years secretarv 
to the last named society, and for some time held the post of 
vice-president, whilst for eighteen years he acted as the British 
Association Committee's secretary to the Zoological Station at 
Naples. 
In the year 1877 his studies extended further afield, when 
he paid a visit of some months' duration to the celebrated 
M 
