THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 



THE LATE MR. RITCHIE. 



The late Mr. A. vS. Ritchie, whose loss we have so much reason to 

 deplore, was born at Pettenween, a small town on the coast of Fifeshire. 

 His father, Mr. Robert Ritchie, was a magistrate of that place. Ac- 

 companied by his cousin, Mr. David Ritchie, who now resides in Brant- 

 ford, Ont, he left Scotland for Canada, in 1853. He remained in 

 Montreal one year, during which time he was in the employ of Messrs. 

 Morrison, Cameron & Kmpey. He then removed to Brantford, where 

 he resided several years, and where he appears to have been very highly 

 respected. Finally, he returned to Montreal in r86o or 1861, where he 

 remained until the time of his death. In the month of May, 1864, he was 

 elected a member of this Society, and from May, 1866, to the present 

 year, he was, as many here well know, an active member of the Council, 

 of which, in t 867 and the present year, lie was unanimously elected chair- 

 man. He was also a member of the editing committee of the Canadian 

 Naturalist. During the six years of his connection with this Society, he 

 brought before us seven papers, six of which are printed in the Naturalist. 



The following are the titles of the papers, and the dates at which thev 

 were read : — 



March, 1865. On the structure of insects, illustrated by microscopical 

 preparations. 



March, 1866. — On the " Walking Stick " insect, Spectrum femoratum. 



Nov., 1868. — On the Beetles of the Island of Montreal. 



Oct.. 1869. — On the White Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapce. 



Feb., 1870.- Why are insects attracted to Artificial lights? 



April, 1870. — Aquaria Studies, No. 1. Oct., 1870. — Aqu. Stu., No. 2. 



His favourite study was Entomology, and this he pursued in a philo- 

 sophic spirit, studying the habits of insects in their native haunts by day, 

 and examining the details of their anatomy under the microscope at night. 

 He was also well acquainted with other departments of Zoology, especially 

 with the infusoria. A little before his decease he was preparing a lecture. 

 " On the Inhabitants of a drop of water." for the young men connected 

 with Erskine Church, and for this Society, a paper on a curious ichneu- 

 mon parasite of the white cabbage butterfly. He died on the 13th De- 

 cember, 1870, at the early age of 34. 



Rev. A. De Sola, LL.D., spoke of Mr. Ritchie, as a most enthusiastic 

 member who had devoted all his spare time to the study of science, which 

 it would be to the advantage of business men to cultivate, and he trusted 

 that many others would follow his example. — Canadian Naturalist. 



