Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

34
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
for the inA"estigation of thefauua of the Black Sea and of the Sea
of Marmora. lu 1S93 he gave up lecturing and devoted himself
entirely to research, spending nearly all his time in his laboratory
and continually adding to his interesting discoveries. Some of the
last months of his life Avere spent on Prince's Island in the Sea of
Marmora, investigating the development of such forms as Hedyle,
Chcetoderma and Psendovermes, his observations on which were
published only after his unexpected death in November ] 901.
Absolute devotion to Science and untiring energy in her service
were the chief characteristics of Alexander Kowalevsky. He was
an ardent evolutionist, and devoted himself to following out by the
aid of the Evolution theory the many and complex problems of
animal life. He modestly disclaimed praise for the enormous
amount of work he accomplished, saying that he no more deserved
praise than a sportsman, since science afforded him the same
pleasure as sport affords the sportsman. All who knew him
personally were impressed with his simplicity and modesty ; he
was conciliatory and polite to all, except perhaps some few whom
he regarded as the opponents of Science, and seemed to ignore the
fact that he was himself a great scientific authority.
The original character and great value of his work made his
name celebrated in all countries of Europe, the scientific societies
of which vied with one another in conferring honours upon him.
He was elected Foreign Member of the Linnean Society, 1st May,
1884, and died at Odessa on 22nd November, 1901.
[M. Beenaed.]
Chables Maries was born at Stratford-on-Avou, and went to
school at Hampton Lucy from 1861 to 1865, at the grammarschool
under Prof. George HensloA\', after which he went to be with
his brother at Lytham, remaining seven years in those nurseries.
Mr. Maries spent some time in Messrs. Veitch's establishment at
Chelsea, where his employer, Mr. H. J. Veitch, selected him to
explore certain parts of China and Japan, known to be rich in
flowering shrubs and trees, many not yet introduced into cultivation
in Europe. Besides these, he sent home herbaceous plants
and conifers ; the latter were desci'ibed by Dr. Masters in our
Journal (Botany, xviii. 1880, pp. 473-524).
In this journey, leaving England in February 1877, he reached
Shanghai, and went on to Japan, where he inspected the nurseries
at Yokohama and Tedo, and began conifer-hunting at Nikko,
rediscovering Abies Veitchi ; he lost over 20,000 specimens by
wreck, ultimately reaching Yokohama, and sailing for Hong Kong
on Christmas-day. He attempted to collect in Formosa, but was
not successful. The following summer found him at Chin Kiang
and Kiu Kiang ; at the latter place he was incapacitated by sunstroke
for two mouths ; he again visited Japan, and reached
Hankow in December. He spent the next season on the Yantgze,
and in the Ichang gorges ; amongst the 500 living plants sent
home, was that curiosity the square bamboo, besides a large
quantity of seeds of Conifers, Maples, Oaks, and other trees.