Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

20 PROCEEDINGS OE THE
should be directed to this provision in the Bye-Laws, and that.
Her Majesty should be humbly and dutifully requested to signify
her wish to become an Honorary Member. The loyal and happy
resolution to this effect was proposed at Council by Prof. Vines
on January 19th, and on February 2nd I was enabled to read to
the Society the reply intimating that the Queen had graciously
acceded to our request.
We turn from the pleasant thought of these accessions to the
inevitable losses which we have to regret—the death of 18 Ordinary
Fellows and of 4 on the Foreign list, the latter beiug:— Dr. Eudolph
A. Philippi, Prof. Eduard von Martens, M. Bernard Renault, and
Prof. Alpheus S. Packard. The obituaries of our late Fellows
have been prepared as usual by the Secretaries, and I do not
propose to detain you by traversing the same ground ; but there
is one loss we have sustained Avhich has a personal sadness for
most of us and which 1 cannot pass over on this occasion. In
deep sorrow we have to record the death, on February 4tli, 1905,
of our former Zoological Secretary, Prof, George Bond Howes.
Last year Prof. Vines referred sympathetically to the resignation
of office which our friend's continued serious illness had necessi-
tated, and now we mourn the premature termination of a useful
life and a distinguished career. Prof. Howes's numerous solid
contributions to science will be duly recorded in our ' Proceedings.'
Tributes to his influence as a teacher and his helpfulness as a
colleague have already been published or will shortly appear. We
knew him best here as an indefatigable councillor and office-bearer
and a true friend of all honest workers. Many young scientific
men owe their professional position and advancement in large
measure to support and advice from Howes. He had correspondents
in all parts of the country w^hom he helped with information
and literature. He had an unusually wide range of
knowledge and a marvellously detailed acquaintance with the
publications of Zoology ; and all that he knew was ever placed
freely at the disposal not only of his students and friends, but
also of other workers on the subject whom in some cases he had
never even met. I do not think it is too much to say that he wore
himself out working for others.
We all appreciated highly his scientific work and admired his
fine character ; those of us who were privileged to know him more
intimately loved him as a friend of a singularly sympathetic,
unselfish and loyal nature. This Society at the meeting on
February 16th passed a resolution of deep regret, sympathy and
gratitude for devoted service ; and I am now able to announce to
you that steps have been taken by the Officers of this Society and
of the Zoological Society and a few other former colleagues to
establish a Howes Memorial Fund. A committee is now being
formed, and a circular letter will shortly be issued to the Fellows
of the Society.