SW TIIK CANADIAN KNT<»M«»l,«KiIHT. 



groups of insects, and at times the daily routine of the economic 



entomologist was irksome, but nevertheless, whatever he did was done 

 well, and he found lime to dedicate to his researches in the Hemiptera, 

 although nearly all the work he did was done at home in the evenings, 

 after the day's task was over. Vet, in spile of the linuted time at his 

 command, he was able to produce enormous quantities of work of the 

 highest character. At some time in the near future I hope to be able to 

 give at greater length an account of his work. I'or the present, I shall 

 merely mention his great work on the Jassidx in coimection with the 

 Sugar Planters' Association work on the j^arasites of the sugar cane, and 

 the general Catalogue of the Hemiptcra, now in course of publication, 

 both of which mark epochs in Hcmi|)lcrology. Like every earnest worker 

 in the Hemiptera, tlie nomenciatorial chaos into which the order had 

 fallen soon forced itself upon his notice, and much as he disliked to 

 neglect the biological phases of the group, he was impelled to endeavour 

 to place this important branch of the subject on a stable basis. In the 

 pursuit of this laudable object, he was forced by the sheer logic of circum- 

 stances to lake radical and iconoclastic measures, but he regretted just as 

 keenly as any of his opponents and critics the necessity of doing away with 

 many a name hallowed, as it were, by long usage. 



Kirkaldy had all the vivacity and ardour of the Celt, which may at 

 times have led him to accept perhajjs too quickly and maintain too 

 enthusiastically views which a more mature judgment showed to be 

 untenable. Joined to this was a relentless Scotch logical temperament, 

 which drove him inexorably and unswervingly to conclusions which at 

 times were opposed to his natural inclination, yet which his passion for 

 truth compelled him to accept and battle for. .\bove all things he hated 

 sham ; he loathed that spirit of pompous and* self-suflicient importance 

 which curses some small men. .\ conj-ianl and tireless worker, a minute, 

 patient, resourceful student, he ever looked singly to the advancement of 

 the knowledge of the Heteroptcra, that group so sadly and shamefully 

 neglected in comparison to other orders. In that bright gala.xy where 

 shine the illustrious names of Kabricius, lUirmeister, Dufour, Amyol, 

 Fieber, Stal, and in our days, most happily still with us, of Renter, 

 Horvath, Muntadon, Hergroth, his is not the dimmest, and had Azrael 

 held his hand, he had shone among the most brilliant. 



As for me, I have lost a leal friend, an inspiration and a lode-star ; 

 one who encouraged me when I was faint, who helped me when I fell ; to 



