Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

LIXNEAK SOCIETr OF LONDOX. 1
of one on the Foreign list ; tlie latter being the illustrious and
veteran Zoologist of Wiirzburg, Professor Eudolph Albert von
Kolliker—recipient of the Linnean Medal in 1902.
The obituaries of our late Fellows have been prepared by the
Secretaries, and will be presented to the Society in the usual
manner. I do not propose to detain you by traversing the same
ground, but will merely make a passing reference to two special
cases.
In Mrs. Constance Percy-Sladen we lose one who had recently
become a great benefactor of Science, and had founded a noble
memorial of her late husband, at one time Zoological Secretary of
the Linnean Society. Her interest in this Society was great, she
was gratified at being admitted to our Fellowship, she was present
at one of our meetings last session, and the sad news of her
death was received only a few days before the meeting appointed
for the reception of the preliminary account of the first Percy-
Sladen Exploring Expedition promoted by the Trust that Mrs.
Sladen had founded. It is no great secret, I believe, that Mhen
the Indian Ocean was omitted from the great oceanic areas explored
during the ' Challenger ' Expedition, Mr. Percy Sladen
was one of those who earnestly hoped that some other public or
private expedition would be organised to make good the omission :
and that later on in life he and his wife talked of planning and
promoting such an exploration themselves. Sladen did not live
to carry out the plan, but the Trust founded by his widow
adopted as its first venture an expedition under the leadership of
Mr. Stanley Gardiner, which seemed to have that very purpose
in view, and which we now know has been successfully accomplished.
The name borne by our late Fellow and her husband,
our former Secretary, will in the future be a familiar word in
Science, and especially in our Society, as a result of the explorations
supported by the Percy-Sladen Trust.
The recent terribly sudden death of Professor "Weldon removes
from our Society one of the most distinguished of Zoologists,
still in the prime of life and in the fulness of work. Of extra-
ordinai'y vigour as a lecturer and debater, full of keenness in
every research that he undertook, deeply interested in the advancement
of all that is best in scientific hfe, and having
transcendent ability and superabundant energy, he was able to
accomplish much in his too short working life—and it is almost
impossible yet to realise that he has left his work unfinished and
that other hands must now carry on what his fertile and enthusiastic
mind had planned. His early death is a serious blow
to Biological Science in this country, which has suffered many
unexpected losses during the last quarter ceutury—since the tragic
death of Professor F. M. Balfour on the Alps in 1882.
The Howes Memorial Fund started by the Officers of this
Society and other colleagues and friends of our late Zoological
Secretary has now been closed, a Trust-deed has been prepared,
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