1916.] 21 



laria : " On calm hot days in autumn this may be seen almost anywhere in 

 countless myriads, rivalling swarms of Aphidae." It was the only Psocid which 

 he could i-ecall ever to have seen voluntarily on the wing. I cannot remember 

 seeing any of the Psocids in my house in the act of flight. 



From about October 5th to October 19th, 1913, the fly Stomox7js calcitrans 

 was present in considerable quantity in the house, along with the Psocids. 

 Several dozen specimens at least were collected off the window-panes. Neither 

 this insect nor the Psocids have recurred in the two succeeding years in numbers 

 in the least approaching a "swarm." — Hugh Scott, University Musevim of 

 Zoology, Cambridge : November 24ith, 1915. 



Professor Raphael Mcldola, D.Sc, F.B.S., whose sudden death on Nov. 16th, 

 at tlie age of G6, we announce with profound regret, was perhaps best known to 

 the public as the Professor of Chemistry in Finsbxuy Technical College since 

 1885, and as one of the most eminent chemists of our time, in particular our 

 chief authority on the colouring matters derived from coal-tar, just now so 

 much under discussion. But vei-y few men have had a wider range of interests 

 in science, and as a biologist, more especially in the questions of Mimicry and 

 Protective Resemblance in tlie animal Kingdom, his repixtation stands at least 

 as high. His greatest service to modern Natiu-al History is perhaps his 

 admirable translation of Weismann's epoch-making work, " Studies in the 

 Theory of Descent," which appeared, with copious notes by the translator, in 

 1882-3, and was the means of bringing into prominence in our country the 

 " Mtdlerian " theory of Mimicry very shortly after its inception by its aiithor. 

 In his biological woi'k, Meldola was associated with Charles Darwin and other 

 pioneers of evolution, Wallace, Bates, and Trimen, and later more especially 

 with his " brother in Science," Professor Poulton. As far back as 1868 we find 

 him writing on Entomologicfil subjects, and occasional notes from his pen 

 appear in some of our early volumes. In 1872 he became a Fellow of the 

 Entomological Society of London, and for five years (1876-80) held the post of 

 Secretary: and in 1896-7 he occupied the Presidential Chair with special 

 distinction. His name is also intimately associated with the Essex Field Club, 

 now largely owing to his influence one of the leading local Natural History 

 societies, and of which he was the first President (1880-83) and again at the 

 " coming of age " of the Club in 1901-2. He f-r-rmed a considerable collection of 

 insects, chiefly Lepidoptera, which we imderstand will shortly find a home in the 

 Oxford University Museum. 



Whether as teacher, colleague, or friend, few men have commanded more 

 unqualified esteem and affection than Raphael Meldola. His merit was recog- 

 nized by many honours in the gift of Science, culminating in 1913 in the award 

 of the Davy Medal of tlie Royal Society In 1886 he married the daughter 

 of the late Dr. Maixrice Davis, J.P., who survives him, and to whom we tender 

 our sincere sympathy. 



