394 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 



OBITUARY. 



PROF. PAUL BIOLLEY. 



Among the numerous naturalists which Switzerland has 

 given to the world the late Paul Biolley occupied a noteworthy 

 place. Born at Neufchatel, February 15, 1862, the son of Prof. 

 August Biolley, he studied in his native city., taking his degree 

 in letters. In 1885, after teaching two years in Holland, he 

 was selected with two other compatriots, by the government 

 of Costa Rica to organize in the capital of that 

 republic a college the ''Liceo de Costa Rica." There he 

 remained many years, also occupying a professorship at the 

 Girls' College "Liceo de Senoritas," as well as teaching in the 

 city of Cartago. In the years of his teaching he trained many 

 young men who are now prominent citizens of the republic of 

 Costa Rica. 



Prof. Biolley 's right to our recognition rests, however, nol 

 upon his work as a teacher, but upon years of indefatigable 

 natural history field work in his adopted country, the inverte- 

 brate fauna of which he undoubtedly knew better than any liv- 

 ing man. Soon after his arrival in the country he began study- 

 ing its natural history, preparing collections of botanical speci- 

 mens, insects, reptiles, etc., his spare time for years being thus 

 occupied. His excursions yielded material of very great value 

 and the results enriched the two scientific institutions of the 

 republic, the "Institute Fisico Geografico" and the "Museo 

 National," while collections of great value were sent to special- 

 ists and museums in Europe and the United States. His work 

 was continuous, from early morning until late at night, both 

 in the field and in his room. All of his excursions, even those 

 to distant places, were made on foot and his work was not 

 merely collecting, but with his keen powers of observation he 

 noted many facts concerning the life of the animal, and the 

 labels placed by him on his material bear witness to the intense 

 interest he had in his work. 



He maintained a valuable correspondence with prominent 

 naturalists and his numerous collections sent to them gave rise 

 to a number of publications, forming, no doubt, the most com- 

 plete series of papers on the natural history of Costa Rica. 



