232 
LIST OF MY ENTOMOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS ETC, 
137. Two critical remarks about the recently published third 
part of the “Muscaria Schizometopa” of MM. Brauer and 
Bergenstamm, also a notice on Rob. Desvoidy. 
Beil. Ent. Z. 1893, p. 380-385. 
My excellent friend J. M. F. Bigot died April 14 1893 at his country-seat 
near Paris at the age of 74 years. (An Obituary Notice will be found in the 
Bulletin de la Soc. Ent. de France April 20 1893.) My acquaintance with Bigot 
was of long date. When I met him again after my return from the United States 
in 1877, and our relations were renewed, I felt it my duty, although treating 
him as a friend, to tell him the truth about his publications. I did so, during 
one of my visits to Paris (the year I do not remember), in telling him that he 
was doing a useful work in forming a large collection, especially of exotic Dip- 
tera; but that he should renounce descriptive work, for which he was not com¬ 
petent. I expressed my opinion in the strongest terms, concluding with the 
words: “If all your publications could he suppressed, it would be a gain for 
science!” 1 He winced a little, but resumed immediately his serene expression, 
and said: “Eh bien, cela m’amuse”! My frankness did not prevent us from re¬ 
maining friends up to his death. In the most generous manner, he kept his 
rich collection and library at my disposal. Even when he was away from Paris 
(he usually spent his winters in Algiers) he left orders to his housekeeper to 
admit me at any time into his sanctum , and to light a fire for me in winter. 
I keep of my friend Bigot and of his family (wife and daughter) a pleasant and 
grateful recollection. 
The share I had in the sale of Bigot’s collection is explained in the Bul¬ 
letin de la Soc. Ent. de France, June 14 1893. In this notice it should have 
been added that I had written to the Authorities of the Museum in Paris, urg¬ 
ing them to purchase this importaut collection offered at a very moderate price 
(6000 francs). My advice, however, was not heeded, and the collection passed 
into the hands of Mr. G. II. Verrall of Newmarket, England, and will ultima¬ 
tely, as I understand, find its place in the British Museum. 
It remains for me now to reproduce the opinion expressed by Mr. Bigot 
himself, at different times, about his own publications: 
In the Annales etc. 1885, p. 225 he said: “J’avais autrefois (Ann. etc. 
1852—1859) commence la publication d’un travail intitule: ldssai d’un classifi¬ 
cation generate et synoptique de VOrdre des Insectes Dipteres etc. Cette oeuvre 
fut alors severement et doctoralement critiquee dans le Bericht de Gerstaccker 
1 From this general condemnation I except of course those publications of 
Bigot which are illustrated by excellent colored plates (as his Vipt'cres da Ma¬ 
dagascar and Dipteres du Chili). 
