1902.] 289 



practised, and for some years was engaged in teaching Natural History. In 1844 - 

 he obtained an appointment in the Cantonal School at Chur in Switzerland, re- 

 mained there nine years, and in 1853 returned to Munich ; in 1859 he was appointed 

 Assistant in the Zoological State Museum in that city, and eventually (after filling 

 intermediate positions) Second Curator in 1898. His earlier entomological writings 

 were on Coleoptera (his " Inaugural Dissertation " was on the Cerambycidce of 

 Munich), and during his long life he also published on Diptera and other insects ; 

 but it was in Hymenoptera that he made himself best known ; on these he was 

 looked up to as an authority, and it was especially the Ichneumonidee that attracted 

 him most ; in this difficult group his name will go down to posterity as one of its 

 most earnest and conscientious students. 



Homer Franklin Bassett, a diligent student of North American Galls and 

 Gall-flies, was born at Florida (Mass.) on September 2nd, 1826, and diod at Water- 

 bury (Conn.) on June 28th, 1902. After completing his education he appears to 

 have occupied various positions, and to have been to some extent a good example of 

 the adaptability of " our American cousins " — farmer, schoolmaster, and insurance 

 and estate agent. But in 1872 he was appointed Librarian to the Bronson Library 

 in Waterbury, a post in strict accordance with his predilections, and which he held 

 until 1901, much to the advantage of the Library. He did much good work in 

 Cynipidm and other gall-flies, and a short time ago presented his collection to 

 the American Entomological Society. We are indebted to our contemporary, 

 " Entomological News," for most of the information in this short notice. 



Br. Pierre Jules Tosquinet, President of the Entomological Society of Belgium. 

 We regret to announce the death of Dr. Tosquinet at Saint-Gilles, a suburb of 

 Brussels, on October 28th last. He was born at Bastogne, in the Province of 

 Luxembourg, on February 16th, 1824, and was thus in his 79th year. He entered the 

 medical service of the Belgian army, and was formerly surgeon to the 2nd line 

 regiment, eventually becoming Military Inspector General for Health, from which 

 post he had retired ; he was also President of the Central State Commission for 

 Vaccination. He was elected into the Entomological Society of Belgium on Octo- 

 ber 5th, 1872, and, having been Vice-President, became President, and was in his 

 second year of office at the time of his death. It was probably somewhat late in 

 life when his attention beeame seriously concentrated on entomological studies. 

 He devoted himself to parasitic Hymenoptera, especially Ichneumonidce, and acquired 

 wide knowledge of the group and considerable materials. But he published little, 

 although several communications from him are to be found in the later volumes of 

 the Annales Soc. Ent. Belg. ; in that Society he took the warmest interest, and was 

 greatly esteemed by his colleagues. He leaves a widow, son, and three grand- 

 children to deplore his loss. His entomological compatriots will no doubt publish 

 fuller details of his career than we are able to do here. 



Societies. 



Birmingham Entomolooical Society: September 152//, 1902. — Mr. R. C. 

 Bradley in the Chair. 



Mr. G. W. Wynn showed various Lepidoptera, including Protoparce convol- 



