128 THE entomologist's record. 



growth of which this Journal, Avhich is devoted to the study of variation. 

 has contributed in no small degree. 



With these famous works which Tutt produced in England, the 

 lepidopterous fauna of which he at once attacked from the point of 

 view of local variation, it cannot be difficult for Continental Lepidop- 

 terists to begin, with a similar thorough investigation on the lines laid 

 down by Tutt, the working out of their local faunas. But Ave have yet 

 very few works on these lines, and we must wait many years yet before 

 the influence of the point of view here outlined, and inaugurated by Tutt, 

 affects our continental collectors. 



Any impartial observer, who compares the activity of different 

 nations, is bound to admit that the study of Lepidoptera has a greater 

 number of first class workers in England than in any other country, 

 men, too, who have taken up Entomology not for mere amusement, 

 but for the real advancement of science; it is therefore regrettable, but 

 not surprising, that Herr Gillmer's translation of Tutt's chief work 

 has not received the necessary support from the German public. 



However, every serious Lepidopterist, who wishes to master his 

 subject, is bound to turn to Tutt's works, which are such a stimulant 

 to further study, owing to their thoroughness and the many aspects 

 from which they throw light upon their subject. And so his influence 

 will gradually increase bej'ond the confines of England, and surely the 

 incentive to further research is the finest legacy that a teacher can 

 leave to his disciples. I well remember the day when, as a student, 

 despite my limited means, I kept buying those comprehensive red- 

 covered parts of Tutt's Natural Hiiitorij nf British Le/iiiloptcra and 

 read with wonder the immense amount of data and observation of his 

 own and of others, ranged to form a single picture. It was the 

 encyclopaedic scope of the work that attracted me, and this encyclo- 

 pedic talent, applied to a special branch of science, was Tutt's 

 distinguishing feature; no side of his subject appeared to him too 

 insignificant for treatment ; an absolutely exhaustive study was his 

 ideal. 



Biology, Morphology, Variation, Systematics, and Nomenclature, 

 all were the same to him, and in ail he betrayed an extraordinary and 

 profound thoroughness. The subject which occupied the last decades 

 of his life seems, to the ordinary mortal, not to be unattainably vast ; 

 but he, who is familiar with the inexhaustible variety of nature, knows 

 that it requires superhuman strength to achieve the ambition of 

 bringing together all possible knowledge of the upwards of two 

 thousand species of British Lepidoptera. Then, too, every species, that 

 fills its place in Nature, has a long and complicated history, even 

 more complex than that of man, and the impression of the specific 

 character extends even into the cells of the body, and is impressed 

 upon the life and habits of the creature. What a colossal task to 

 undertake, demanding an heroic courage, and what an Ideal, to make 

 so great progress with it, before Death overtook him, and left us all in 

 mourning. 



But we hope that this example of unremitting labour and the 

 highest devotion to the Ideal that he aftbrded us, in all lands where 

 the name of Tutt was known, will arouse an array of successors, who 

 will attack with equal spirit that object which we have all at heart, — 

 the progress of Entomology. — Konigsberg, Zoologisches Museum, 

 March 9t/i, 1911. 



