118 [October, 



apparatus, with no appreciable result to science, and, in the long run, with but little 

 satisfaction to himself. We wish particularly to call attention to a remarkable paper 

 styled " A contribution to the knowledge of Bi'itish Orohatidce " (a Family of Mites), 

 by A. D. Michael (with the assistance of C. F. George), which appears to us as one 

 of the most valuable publications on Acari that have ever appeared in this country, 

 illustrated by beautiful plates from Mr. Michael's drawings. It is published in vol. 

 ii, No. 3 (May, 1879), and we hope will be followed by others on other Families. 



itiuiriT. 



Sir Thomas Moncreiff'e, Bart., died on tlie 16th August, after a short illness at 

 his residence — Moncreiffe House, Bridge of Earn. Born January 9th, 1822, he suc- 

 ceeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his father in 1830, and was, if we mistake not, 

 educated at Harrow. In 1839 he entered the Army, from which he retired in 1842. 

 In the following year lie married Lady Louisa Hay, daughter of the Earl of Kinnoul, 

 by whom he had a family of eight sons and eight daughters. 



Sir Thomas was a keen sportsman, and for many years was the best shot in 

 Perthsliire. He was also, in his younger days, a skilful cricketer, &c. 



Though always possessed of a love of natural history, it is little more than ten 

 years ago that he first turned his attention to entomology, and I think we may search 

 in vain for another instance of one first becoming an entomologist in his forty-eighth 

 year, who tlienceforward pursued the study with such eager interest to the close of 

 his career. 



It has been well said of him that " he had all the enthusiasm of the true lover 

 " of Nature, and the keen inevitable eye of the born observer ; nothing escaped 

 " his notice, and, had he cared to chronicle all he knew of his favourite studies, he 

 " would have added very considerably to our knowledge of natural history. But he 

 " never mads any pretensions himself to be a scientific man, and characteristically 

 " undervalued his attainments." 



I can confirm this innate modesty, as in one of his letters he begins — " Many 

 " thanks for yours, I do not wish to make any remarks on your decision " [as to the 

 name of some insects] " as I know you must be right." 



To the pages of the " Scottish Naturalist " he contributed a valuable sei'ics of 

 papers on the Lepidoptera of Moncreiffe Hill — no less than 603 species are there 

 recorded as having been captured in the space of a square mile at Moncreiffe — this 

 is enriched with many intci-esting remarks and observations, all written in a peculiarly 

 genial style. 



Of the repeated exertions made by Sir Thomas Moncreiffe to solve the mystery 

 of the habits of Gelecliia humeralis I have a lively recollection, he having actually 

 sent me, in February, 1877, a series of living specimens of the insect, captured whilst 

 flying amongst conifers in his garden, in the hopes that I might succeed in obtaining 

 ova from them. The idea of receiving living Micro -Lepidoptera from Ferihshire in 

 February was to me quite novel. 



For several years Sir Thomas Moncreiffe was President of the Perthshire Society 

 of Natural Science, and in that capacity he first ventilated the idea of providing a 

 new Public Museum worthy of the city of Perth. " With characteristic energy, he 

 " threw his whole soul into the movement thus inaugurated, and lived long enough 

 " to find that liis views commended themselves generally to the citizens." 



