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Proceedings of the Royal Society 
In private life Dr M‘Bain was much esteemed by a large circle 
of friends. A man of extensive reading, amiable and unobtrusive 
in manner, be quietly prosecuted his practical work as a naturalist 
uninfluenced by any of the various theories which are not fully 
supported by facts. One scientific fact, indeed, to use his own 
words, was to him worth all the poetry in the world. He took 
a great interest in the scientific studies of young naturalists, and 
was at all times ready to give them the benefit of his counsel and 
wide experience. Many such students now mourn his loss in 
distant lands. 
Dr M‘Bain died, after a painful illness of some months’ duration, 
at Trinity, near Edinburgh, on 21st March 1879. 
Professor James Nicol. By Professor Archibald Geikie. 
In the death of Professor James bficoL the Society has to regret 
the loss of one who served to link the present generation of 
geologists with the early leaders of the science in this country. 
Trained in this university under Jameson, he imbibed that love for 
the mineralogical side of geology which distinguished his career. 
His earliest scientific publication — an essay on the geology of his 
native county of Peebles — was awarded a prize by the Highland 
Society, and was issued in their “Transactions.” At the time 
of its appearance very little had been added to the original observa- 
tions of Sir James Hall, communicated to Hutton, and published in 
the “Theory of the Earth,” regarding the structure and constitution 
of the so-called schistus or killas , forming the uplands of the south 
of Scotland. Mr Nicol, however, continued to devote himself to 
the investigation of this subject. He was the first to suggest that 
these rocks should be paralleled with some of the “ Silurian” forma- 
tions made known by the researches of Murchison ; and in subse- 
quent communications to the Geological Society of London he 
brought forward contributions to the unravelling of the complicated 
geology of these Silurian uplands of Scotland. At an early period 
of his life he published a small volume under the title of “ Guide 
to the Geology of Scotland.” Though chiefly compiled from the 
published memoirs of previous observers, it was a meritorious and 
useful work, giving within a small compass a trustworthy digest of 
