124 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



a similar scheme, and that the collection of material was then well 

 begun. It was clear also, that the M'ork could not be done with 

 advantage by anyone but a professional entomologist, so my project 

 went no further. The eight fine volumes published of the Natural 

 Histori/ of the British Lepidoptera, show the result of his collecting. 

 For the first time we see how such a natural history should be done. 

 Of these books much represents actual new research into points of life- 

 history and anatomy, emanating, as Mr. Tutt tells us, chiefly from the 

 masterly hands of Dr. T. A. Chapman and from other collaborators. 

 But as collections illustrating the phenomena of variation, this 

 Natural History is a very important contribution to original research. 

 Botanists have of late years compiled a few such monographs, but I 

 know no zoological subject which has been treated on such an adequate 

 scale. Too often the systematist, when he has described a species and 

 named its varieties, is content to pass to the next. He fails to catch 

 the point of view of the student of variation, who wants to know every 

 particular as to each form, the range of its fluctuations, the statistics 

 of its occurrence, and its geographical limitations, and it is no use 

 pressing him for such details. It was Tutt's singular merit that he 

 appreciated the value of this minute treatment, and he thus compiled 

 a veritable corpus of knowledge which will certainly become here- 

 after the foundation of a study of the genetics of lepidoptera. 

 Like most men of original mind he had his idiosyncrasies, which to 

 some extent interfered with the utility of his work. Having set out 

 to collect the details he collected them all without distinction, and it 

 is not always easy in the enormous mass which he accumulated to find 

 the special information for which one is in search, but it is all there, 

 and with patience can be found. The collection is made and need 

 never be made again. When the circumstances in which this extra- 

 ordinary quantity of work was done are remembered, the achievement 

 becomes in truth amazing. While these books were in progress he 

 was pursuing his ordinary avocations. He edited and contributed 

 largely to a monthly journal. He did no mean amount of field work 

 himself, and perhaps best of all, he found time to make acquaintance 

 with the young men who were beginning to show interest in ento- 

 mology, and personally to inspire them with that spirit of accurate 

 research of which he Avas so full. Those who came into the circle of 

 his friends will be well aware, that he was one of the most remarkable 

 personalities of their time. His reward is still to come ; but that it 

 will come I think, and hope that he had prescience enough to know. 

 — The Manor House, Merton, Surrey. March, 1911. 



By Dr. T. A. Chapman, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



His influence was great and in various directions. It was not 

 confined entirely to the Lepidoptera, for he handled various matters of 

 general scientific interest outside his special studies. Always keen in 

 the field, always observing insect life, making large collections, in his 

 earlier days rearing many species, he recorded more facts at first hand 

 than the average Lepidopterist does, but not so much beyond a fair 

 average as at all to account for the extent of his knowledge and the 

 commanding position he attained. This was due much more to his 



