JDH explains why he considers Dr [James William Helenus] Trail a suitable candidate for fellowship of the Royal Society. It was JDH who recommended that Trail go on the expedition up the Amazon 12 years previously & Trail made the most of the opportunity for scientific purposes making excellent collections & observations, especially papers on the palms of the Amazon published in [Henry] Trimen's journal of botany in 1876 & work on Amazon ant-housing plants. He has also published further papers, catalogued in the Royal Society Compilations & is producing more. Trail is also a productive teacher of biological science & his students have often proved excellent members of expeditions. JDH intends to add his signature to Trail's paper of qualifications.