192 NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED
beaks nearly touching, rapidly shook their heads from side to side.
This is, I believe, a courting action of the bird.
It seemed exceedingly probable that the birds would breed;
but, since 6th May, up to the time of writing (nth June), they
have no longer been seen. The only mention of this species in
Buxton's Epping Forest is a note, signed A. L., as follows:—
"I observed a female bird on the Wanstead Basin for several
days in the spring of 1883."
It will be remembered that, at a meeting during the past
winter session (see ante, p. 176), Mr. Miller Christy exhibited a
skin of this bird and remarked that, in his experience, it was
becoming much commoner in the county. He further stated
that he had seen one sitting on its nest at the Walthamstow
Reservoirs, during the club meeting there. The occurrence of
Grebes at Wanstead, so near to London, is further evidence of its
steady increase in this part of England, which must be a
source of much satisfaction to every bird-lover.—A. Capleton,
Leytonstone.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Professor Meldola.—Older Members will be especially
glad to know that the University of Oxford has conferred upon
Professor Meldola, the first President of the Club, the Degree
of Doctor of Science, at a Convocation held on 6th December,
Dr. Herberden, Principal of Brasenose, presiding. The honour
was in anticipation of the delivery of the Herbert Spencer
Lecture by Professor Meldola on 8th December.
In making the presentation, the Sedelian Professor of
Natural Philosophy, Prof. A. E. H. Lowe, F.R.S., delivered
the following oration, which we reprint from Nature of
8th December :—
" Adest vir quern omnes, qui scientiaa et imprimis chemiae et Biologiae
student, ovnare gaudent, Societatis Regalis Sodalis, Societatum Entomologiae
Chemiae, Chemicorum industriae, operam dantium Praeses emeritus, Raphael
Meldola. Qui vir cum prima aetate Carolo Darwin coniunclissimus esset, ita de
Natura formarum novarum creatrice quaesivit ut plurimis eodem studio iucensis
illud Biologiae genus quod ipse excoluerat nostratium fere proprium fieret.
Posteriora eius studia partim in Physice, partim in Ctiemis versa ta sunt, quo e
numero si pauca qnaedam momenti maximi commemoraie liceat, eligerem quae
de Cliemia Photographiae inservient, de chemicis carbonis elementis, de chemica
umotum corporalium composition commentus est. Multos iam annos in hoc
Chemiae genere principem habitum atque latissimo in campo evagatum nescio an
nemo nunc virum laude superavit."