labour to the mere details of palæontologieal work, it would be a great mistake to count Von Meyer among the mere men of detail. On the contrary, his 'Palæologica,' published in 1832, is full of instructive and original thought, especially the second essay of the three comprised in the work. Von Meyer strongly insists upon the importance of the fact that fossil forms so often fill up the gaps in the series of existing forms, and exhibit in combination characteristics found at present only in distinct groups. Hence, he justly remarks, it results that "conclusions drawn from one part of the skeleton to the structure of the entire animal have turned out to be erroneous, and that even anatomists like Camper have been deceived" (l. c. p. 197): and in his later works this eminent palæontologist constantly repeats this much-needed warning against the current exaggerations of Cuvier's unguarded phrases.
Von Meyer died on the 2nd of April, 1869.
John William Salter, A.L.S., E.G.S., born December 15th, 1820, died December 2nd, 1869. This eminent palæontologist, after an education at a private boarding-school, was, in April 1835, by his own wish, bound apprentice to the well-known James De Carle Sowerby, with whom he hoped to pursue the study of Natural History (especially Entomology) for which he had, from childhood, an ardent love. He has been known to pull his companions (Wm. and J. Sowerby) out of bed on a cold winter's morning to wade through the snow after some insect the habitat of which he had just heard of; or, at other times, knee-deep in the long hay-grass to a favourite pond after water-insects. About this time (1836–37) he wrote his first paper "On the Habits of Insects," read at the Camden Literary Society.
With Mr. Sowerby he was engaged in drawing and engraving the plates of 'Sowerby's Mineral Conchology' then in progress towards completion, of the 'Supplement to Sowerby's English Botany,' of 'Loudon's Encyclopædia of Plants,' and 'Murchison's Silurian System.' The figures for these and many other scientific works, engraved by Mr. Salter at this time, being all drawn from the actual specimens, he was, naturally, training his eye to that perfect knowledge of fossil forms which in later years rendered him so distinguished and keen a palæontologist.
In 1842 he visited Cambridge, where he remained for a short time to assist Professor Sedgwick in arranging the fossils of the Woodwardian Museum. It is not uninteresting here to note that the first and the last independent work of his life was at the Cambridge Museum in connexion with Sedgwick, who continued to be to Salter, up to the last, what, indeed, he has been to so many others, a staunch and generous friend.
In that and the three following years he made several short trips into Wales, and did his first field-geology under Sedgwick's teaching, whom he always referred to as "the Master."
In 1846 he married Sally, second daughter of Mr. J. De Carle Sowerby, with whom he had learnt that art of which, in the illustra-
