LIXIS'EAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 4^ 



systematic investigator. He has himself worked out the syste- 

 matics of the chief groups of the Hymenoptera, the whole of the 

 Orthoptera and Neuroptera and part of the Coleoptera, and, among 

 Vertebrates, the Birds of tlie Sandwich Islands. All these contri- 

 butions are included in that great work the ' Fauna Hawaiiensis,' 

 written by numerous eminent specialists : his General Introduction 

 to the Fauna is now in the Press. 



Throughout Dr. Perkins's long residence in the Sandwich Islands, 

 extending over a period of at least twentv-five years, he has 

 studied the conditions of life of all the groups of animals in the 

 Islands, and not only those on which he has himself written. 



The value of his long and arduous researches is enhanced by the 

 unfortunate circumstance that large numbers of species which he 

 has studied are now extinct, owing to the importation and spread 

 of competing Continental species and to the destruction of the 

 native forests to make way for the sugar-plantations. Dr. Perkins's 

 careful work will thus be the sole record in the future of the many 

 deeply interesting forms of life which have already gone, and of 

 many more Avhich are on the point of disappearing. 



To Dr. Perkins's more strictly scientific achievements must be 

 added his remarkable success in founding the Experimental Station 

 at Honolulu. I am told that he, more than anyone else, has proved 

 that such investigations in applied Biology really pay ; the sugar- 

 planters of the Islands have found it worth their while to liberally 

 endow his Station, having learnt that he has saved them immense 

 sums by his method of importing into the Islands the enemies of 

 the insect-pests of the crop. This practical work has not been 

 accomplished without laborious and most minute investigations 

 into the life-history and bionomic conditions of the pests and their 

 enemies, carried out by him or by skilled assistants under his 

 direction. These enquiries have led to a most exact knowledge of 

 the ways of parasites and hyper-parasites, and, while the object 

 was originally a commercial one, a tlood of light has been thrown 

 on the scientific aspects of insect bionomics. 



I regret to hear that Dr. Perkins's health has suffered in the 

 course of his long-continued labours, owing to exposure during his 

 travels at high elevations and in the damp regions of the Islands. 



On the ground of his distinguished work in field natural history, 

 in systematic investigation, and in applied biology, the Council 

 have awarded the Linneau Medal to Dr. Perkins, and I have great 

 pleasure in handing it to you for his acceptance. 



Prof. Poulton made a suitable acknowledgment, and undertook 

 to convey the medal to the recipient. 



The General Secretary havino; laid before the Meeting certain 

 obituary notices of deceased Fellows and others, the proceedings 

 terminated. 



