24 THE entomologist's record. 



notes on the variation in the abundance of Coleoptera in a sequence of 

 years, and should be obHged for information relating to the special 

 abundance or scarcity of any species which may have been observed in 

 past, or may be observed in future, years. — E. G. Burgess Sopp, 

 Saxholme, Hoylake. 



GEOEGE CHRISTOPHER "dENNIS, F.E.S. 

 Born March 11th, 1848, Died December 22nd, 1897. 



On the morning of December 21st, Mr. G. C. Dennis, the president 

 of the York and District Naturalists' Society, was at entomological 

 work, setting exotic or European butterflies ; in the afternoon he 

 went out, apparently in his usual health and spirits, to attend to some 

 business connected with the city charities, and whilst thus engaged in 

 the vestry of the church, he suddenly became unconscious, slipped 

 from the chair upon which he was sitting, and, although he was at once 

 removed to his home, he never recovered consciousness, but died at 

 three o'clock the next morning. 



For the greater part of his life he was connected with the well- 

 known firm of wholesale confectioners. Sir Joseph Terry and Sons, 

 in which business he eventually became a partner. About two years 

 ago, however, he retired, and has since spent his time in out-door 

 pursuits— fishing, entomology — of which he was passionately fond. 



Mr, Dennis was a born nature-lover, a field naturalist in the truest 

 sense of the word, a good lepidopterist, and latterly he showed much 

 interest in the Neuroptera and Trichoptera. He first found, in 

 abundance, the hitherto rare Ilalesus guttatipennis. He was intensely 

 interested in the York Museum, and had been frequently re-elected 

 to the post of president of the York and District Naturalists' Society. 

 He was on the council of the York Philosophical Society, also on that 

 of the York Horticultural Society. At one time he was, for some 

 years, secretary of the entomological section of the Yorkshire 

 Naturalists' Union, but, although repeatedly urged to become president 

 of that section, he always declined. He was a life-member of the 

 Entomological Society of London, and a member of the South London 

 Entomological Society. 



Quiet, unassuming and modest, it took some time to find out what 

 a good naturalist Mr. Dennis was. In the field he was ever alert — 

 shell, insect, fish and bird — everything claimed his attention and 

 awakened his interest. Only we, who have spent our holidays with 

 him, who have roamed the Deal sand-hills, and climbed the chalk 

 downs, who have sat at night and looked across the silent sea, and 

 watched the moonlight sparkle on the waves, when thought has been 

 too strong for words, only we know how excellent a man has gone from 

 among us. It is too early yet to recognise that the old times have to 

 be eliminated from the recurrent present and future and be numbered 

 with the past ; it is hard yet to recognise that the social, witty and 

 genial companion is gone for ever from among us, and that his 

 place will know him no more. Memories of an unselfish life will 

 live after him, and will be his epitaph in the recollection of those 

 of us who will mourn his loss for many days. For the loss of such 

 a man, our sincerest sympathies will be but as ashes to the gentle 

 lady who, more than all, mourns her husband and our friend ; but such 

 as they are, they are hers, heartfelt and ungrudgingly tendered. 



