Geological Society of London. 181 
that it will be a source of pride and pleasure to the veteran explorer in bis 
declining years. 
In presentin» the balance of tbe proceeds of tbe Murebison Geological Fund to the 
Rev. J. F. Blake, M.A., F.G.S., tbe President said: — 
Mr. Blake, — In presenting you with tbe balance of the Murchison Geological Fund 
in the name of tbe Council of this Society, I bave to express to you our appreciation 
of tbe excellence of the Geological and Palseontological Services whicb you have 
rendered to Science during the last few years. The Mesozoie formations of England 
whicb you are still investigating, require all the energies and accomplishments of the 
palieontologist for their elucidation, besides a great knowledge of practical field- 
geology. You have undertaken a great task in their description, and I trust that 
this slight expression of the approbation and sympathy of your fellow-geologists may 
urge you on in your laborious path. 
Mr. Blake replied as follows : — Mr. President, — I beg to thank the Council very 
sincerely for the honour they have done me in making this award, and you, Sir, for the 
kind manner in whicb you have presented it to me. I do not know that there is any- 
thin» that I care for more than the spread and advaneement of our knowledge of 
Nature ; and there is no honour I t;ovet more eagerly than such as show, as I take it 
this does, that I have to some extent succeeded in doing soraething towards this end. 
I think I may conscientiously say that what geological work I have done has been 
the best I have known how to do, or have had the opportunity of doing, though I am 
continually learnin» how very much better that best might have been. With regard 
to the Mesozoie rocks, which form so prominent a feature in English Geology, there is 
very much yet to be leamt ; and the hard and fast lines of the earliest observers have 
yet to be sraoothed down and shaded off, by a study of the physical conditions of the 
deposits, before we have a complete and artistic picture of the whole. You have 
assured me, Sir, that the present award is meant not only as an honour but as an 
encouragement and incentive to me to go on and add, if possible, something more to 
the picture ; and I hope tbe future may prove that I have received it in that sense. 
The President next handed to Professor Ramsay, F.R.S., the Lyell Medal and part 
of the Lyell Fund, for transmission to James Hector, M.D., F.R.S., Director of the 
Geological Survey of New Zealand, and addressed him as follows : — 
Prof. Ramsay, — The Lyell Medal I have the pleasure of askin» you to forward, on 
tbe part of the Council of this Society, to James Hector, M.D., F.R.S., Director 
of the Geological Survey of New Zealand. It is given to him in recognition of his 
long and valued Services in Geology and Palaeontology both in British North America 
and in New Zealand. Seventeen years ago Dr. Hector communicated a valuable 
Report to the British Association for the Advaneement of Science on the Geology of 
the Palliser Expedition, and others on the Physical features of British North America, 
and on the climate of the Saskatsebewan district; and in 1861 this Society published 
his able paper on the Geology of Lake Superior. Having gained great experience as 
an accomphshed surveyor, he commenced his celebrated survey of New Zealand, and 
the results of it have beeti to place the geological formation of those remarkable 
islands plainly before the world. His Geology of Otago, the Reports of the Survey, 
and his Geological Map of New Zealand — works of great importanee — are most 
valuable contributions to our Science. A distinguished naturalist, Dr. Hector has 
contributed largely to the Botany of New Zealand and to the stndy of its river-fish, 
which have remarkable affinities ; as a palseontologist, he has not only described the 
fossil remains of the gigantic birds, but also of the extinct Reptilia of the islands. 
Impressed with tbe volcanic phenomena still in action, he has studied and written 
upon the thermal springs, the extinct volcanos, and the earthquake phenomena. 
He has been able to compare the grand developments of the formations of the islands 
with the European types ; and his labours have ever been influenced by that method 
of research which rendered the founder of this Medal so illustrious. 
Prof. Ramsay, in reply, said: — Mr. President, — I have very great pleasure in 
receiving this Medal for Dr. Hector, not only on account of his great distinction, but 
also because we have both been so much engaged in questions of Physical Geology. 
As a Physical Geologist, I regard him as standin» in the very first rank ; and his 
qualifications have been shown, not only in North America, but also by his thorough 
Organization of the Geological Survey of New Zealand, which, under his Charge, has 
attained a position second to none in the world. In Dr. Hector’s name I beg to 
thank the Society for this testimony of its appreciation of his. labours. 
