354 Obituary . 
and E. D. Godman, with others of the brotherhood, stayed 
for some little time at the Bull Hotel, in order to take part 
in the proceedings. 
Simpson's latest expeditions in the pursuit of ornithology 
took place during the years 1859 and 1860, chiefly in Greece, 
but also to a less extent in that part of Turkey known 
as the Dobrudscha, which has since become a portion of 
the State of Bumania. In Greece he had the advantage of 
the company of Dr. Kriiper during part of the time, especially 
in the neighbourhood of Mesolonghi, where some interesting 
captures were made. He was able to study the country 
both in its summer and its winter aspect, and the results of 
his experiences are recorded in some of the earlier volumes 
of f The Ibis.' 
Shortly after his return from Turkey, viz. in June 1860, 
he attended the memorable meeting of the British Asso¬ 
ciation at Oxford, where there was a considerable gathering 
of original members of the B. O. U. The general results 
of that meeting are a matter of history, but the more 
immediate result as regards the ornithologists present was 
to confirm their leaning towards the doctrine of Evolution, 
then for the first time brought to the notice of the public. 
Simpson made a trip to Switzerland in the spring of 1861, 
and several interesting finds were the result, such as the 
Golden Eagle from Ben Laoghal, the Grey-lag Goose from 
Loch Laoghal, and two or three complete nests of the 
Greenshank—substantially the last eggs he took. 
Henceforth he determined to devote his energies to some¬ 
thing more practical, and, as a preliminary course, to undertake 
his own re-education, so as to be less dependent on classical 
knowledge only. With this object in view, in the winter of 
1862-63, he studied chemistry under Playfair at Edinburgh, 
where he obtained the University medal in that branch of 
science. Subsequently, for three successive winters, he con¬ 
tinued those studies at the Royal College of Chemistry in 
London, and ultimately set up his own laboratory in Chelsea, 
where he was able to conduct mineral analysis on his own 
account. 
