124 THE entomologist's record. 



curator, Mr. R. South. Soon after becoming editor of the Entomolo- 

 ijist, Carrington had accepted an official post at the Westminster 

 Aquarium, and here, in its " pahny " days, entomologists of all kinds 

 foregathered at the pleasant evenings over which he presided, and here 

 he engineered a great entomological exhibition, which fell under the 

 scathing whip of our scientific leaders. Throwing in his lot with the 

 South London Entomological Society, he served many years on its 

 Council, became in due course its president, worked hard for its success, 

 and, in spite of many things, became one of the best-liked members, 

 his popularity being due to his suavity and pleasant manner, especially 

 with beginners. When the Entomoloijist passed from his charge, he 

 became connected with Science Gossip, but, after a few years of great, 

 and marked, improvement, the publication was allowed to drop 

 owing, we believe, to insufficient financial support. Strangely, 

 its collapse, we were given to understand, was bewailed by none 

 so greatly as those who read it at Society meetings, etc., but 

 refused their personal quota to ensure its success. From this time the 

 connection of Carrington with entomology was a slender one. He 

 regularly appeared as a welcome guest at Mr. Verrall's annual Ento- 

 mological Club dinner, but was absent from the last. Our last gossip 

 with him was in January, 1907, when he was as dapper, cheerful, and 

 smiling as ever. A Bohemian of the Bohemians, entomology has lost 

 in J. T. Carrington a man who was keen, alert, and observant in the 

 field, with a wide and thorough knowledge of our native fauna, an all 

 round naturalist of good attainments, who piloted successfully what was, 

 at the time,our only readable entomological magazine, through what might 

 have been a dangerous period, and, doing little himself entomologically, 

 encouraged others to do much, criticising, without discouraging, those 

 who sent him their earliest attempts, but showing clearly that more 

 would be expected, that ignorance was not a virtue, and that the lapses 

 of a beginner were not to be tolerated in an old hand who could an he 

 would, but wouldn't. Wehavealways had deep affection forourold friend. 

 And time has its revenges. In 1908, the year of his death, the Entomolo- 

 gical Societ}' of London holds its first conversazione, and with it an ento- 

 mological exhibition. The bones of McLachlan, Stainton, and others 

 must be turning in their graves at such desecration. The scathing- 

 denunciation of the former on "pothouse shows," as unfair as it was un- 

 calledfor,the exhibitions as little understood as they were unappreciated, 

 has certainly come home to roost. We ourselves were introduced to 

 the South London Entomological Society at one such show. Our first 

 impression at seeing Lord Walsingham and " Boden " critically dis- 

 cussing a Tortricid, the eager look, keenness and anxiety depicted, was 

 an object lesson we trust never to be forgotten. Let those laugh who win 

 — Carrington was, perhaps, in this matter, a quarter of a century ahead 

 of his time. We, who know, are quite aware that scientific exhibitions 

 need not be vulgar, and that the surroundings have little to do with 

 the matter. We could have wished that Carrington had been at the 

 Entomological Society of London's first conversazione and exhibition. 

 We should have enjoyed with him the memories, which, to many, 

 fortunately, are still an open book, something to be pleased with, 

 something to be smiled at, something even to be proud of. 



Erratum. — Vol. xx., pi. viii., fig. 2, for " gigantea " vea,d. " colossa." Also 

 add " xl8." 



