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(Dbituiirm 



Ferdinand Orut, F.L.S. — We briefly announced the death of Mr. Grut in our 

 last No. (p. 227). He was bom at St. Peter's Port, Guernsey (where his family had 

 been settled for more than 400 years), on January 19th, 1820. His parents left 

 Guernsey in 1825, with their children, of whom Ferdinand was the fifth, and 

 settled in London. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and University, 

 and afterwards was clerk under his father (Nicholas Grut), who was then Secretary 

 to the " Palladium " Insurance Office. He subsequently, in 1852, became Secretary 

 to " Marshall's Charity," a wealthy institution, having for its object the augmentation 

 of the stipends of small Church livings, which position ho held until his death. 

 In October, 1866, ho married Mary Eliza, daughter of the Eev. John Bowstead, 

 but had no family. His widow and two sisters remain to deplore his loss : we 

 believe the male line of the family is now extinct. 



For several years Mr. Grut had suffered from angina pectoris, which became 

 more distressing latterly, and caused his very sudden death on the evening of July 

 19th, at 9, Newcomen Street (formerly King Street), Southward, the offices of 

 " Marshall's Charity," where he resided. It can be said of no man that ho died 

 more truly in harness, for he attended to his varied official duties to the very last. 

 He was buried in the family grave at Scvenoaks. 



Mr. Qrut's connection with the Entomological Society of London was long, 

 useful, and laborious. He was elected in 1846, and there now remain only ten 

 Fellows of older date. In 1856 he was on the Council, and was Vice-President in 

 1863, and again on the Council in 1868, a position he held to the last, an uninter- 

 rupted stretch of 23 years. He was one of the Secretaries from 1871 to 1877, and 

 Honorary Librarian from 1878 to 1891, during a long portion of which period he 

 was single-handed, for it was only latterly that a resident Librarian was appointed. 

 Not the least arduous part of his labours was the compilation of the huge MS. 

 Catalogue of the Library, familiar to most of the Fellows. His work was truly a 

 labour of love, in which he took the keenest interest, and his constant regret latterly 

 was that his failing health sometimes did not permit him to perform his duties to 

 his own satisfaction ; to his colleagues nothing was apparent save an occasional 

 weakness of memory. 



Mr. Grut was also for many years Secretary to the Entomological Club (not 

 connected with the Society), and we think it was mainly owing to his exertions that 

 the Club continues to exist. Many will remember those pleasant annual excursions 

 organized by him ; many also had the privilege of attending the meetings of the 

 Club at his house in Newcomen Street, which reunions were always of the most 

 enjoyable nature, with Mrs. Grut, and usually his unmarried sister, dispensing tea 

 and coffee in a lower room to the guests as they arrived. 



In 1872 he was elected into the Linnean Society, and was a nearly constant atten- 

 dant at the meetings. Also for many years he was on the Council of the Eay 

 Society, and from his ready discrimination and business habits, was of great service 

 at the not too frequent meetings. 



Mr. Grut amassed an extensive library, both entomological and general, which 

 includes many valuable works. He also formed a large collection of Coleoptera, 

 chiefly CaralidcB, but addc-d little to it latterly, yet, owing to the period at 



