146 fJ"^y> 



a largeness of view in entomology, and in his later years a style o£ 

 action (a survival of the habit of beating for larvae) more vigorous than 

 was absolutely necessary for the capture of Neuropteo'a, which gives 

 point to the following story. He and a friend, trespassing in West 

 Wiekham Wood in quest of Endromis versicolor, were surprised by a 

 gamekeeper and promptly turned out. " What, Sir ! " said the keeper, 

 in reply to some mild remark, " Not a doing of no harm ? Now, then, 

 I tell you Sir, I won't be denying as how cats is bad ; aye, and stoats 

 is proper bad : but to my mind, Sir, of all the varmints, you fly- 

 catchers be a long sight the worsest ! " 



In the later " fifties," when Dr Hagen began to contribute " A 

 Synopsis of the British Neuroptera " to the Entomologists' Annual, 

 this Order (in the widest sense) became McLachlan's speciality. 

 Hagen and Brauer had indicated the necessity of taking something 

 more than colour and size into account with regard to species : 

 McLachlan proceeded to create a road to exactitude, and with 

 microscope and camera lucida devoted years to the elucidation of 

 structural detail, establishing standards of procedure in working out 

 Trichoptera and some of the other Families of Neuroptera. The 

 application of his methods to the Ephemeridw and Ferlidce was left 

 to others enjoying facilities for their study in the field greater than a 

 London resident could command. 



Meanwhile his collection of Neuroptera grew apace, — partly 

 through his own captures at home and abroad, and still more largely 

 by purchase, gift and exchange,— until it became the most important 

 in the United Kingdom, rich in specimens authentically named, and in 

 species not yet described. And so Westview, Lewisham, became a 

 resort for Neuropterists of all countries, and a focus of corres- 

 pondence concerning Neuroptera from all parts of the world. 



Some time ago he contemplated making over his collections by 

 Deed of Gift to the British Museum (Natural History) ; but the 

 deed prepared was never executed, — probably because earlier hours 

 for working can be secured at home than are permissible in any public 

 museum, and because while they remained his own property he felt 

 free to break up unique specimens when it was necessary to do so for 

 the advancement of knowledge, piecing them together afterwards 

 with a skill that none but a specialist could admire or appreciate. 



AV^hile taking a general interest in questions of speculative 

 or theoretical Entomology, McLachlan had no great opinion of 

 writers or speakers whose sole equipment for the discussion of that 

 class of subjects was pen, scissors and paste. Ingenious guessing at 



