270 I November, 



Reports, wrote many of the Bulletins, and established the journal known as " Insect 

 Life," which he edited to the end of vol. vi in 1894 (a seventh and last vol., edited 

 by Mr. Howard, has since appeared). In 189i, worried by official parsimony and 

 other matters (consequent on a deficient Government Treasury), he sent in his 

 resignation. It is said to be an open secret that this step was to some extent diplo- 

 matic : be that as it may, his resignation was accepted, and he found time (of short 

 duration, alas !) in his capacity of Hon. Curator of the Entomological Collections of 

 the U. S. National Museum (to which he had presented his own very extensive collec- 

 tions) to commence scientific systematic work, to which he had long looked forward. 

 No doubt his health had also suffered greatly, and he needed rest : this was plainly 

 evident from his jaded appearance when in England last summer. 



Many years ago Riley married a lady of Danish extraction, who with several 

 children survives him : the main object of his recent visit to Europe was to 

 bring his two daughters to school in France. At that time, in the course of con- 

 versation, he more than once confided to the writer of this notice his intention of 

 settling once moi-e in England, near the scenes of his childhood, if he could satis- 

 factorily dispose of his property in America. 



Riley was nothing if not original. For his suggestions as to reviving the 

 etiolated French Vineyards by using certain American Fhi/Uoxera-prooi stocko ou 

 which to graft, he received the gold medal of the French Grovernment ; subsequently 

 he received the Cross of the Legion d'Honneur in connection with the Exhibition of 

 1889. His services in connection with the Rocky Mountain Locust, the Cotton 

 Worm, and the Australian Icerya, are too well known to need detail : but in this 

 latter case he was the first to demonstrate the practicability of introducing from 

 abroad the insect enemies that help to check the ravages of an imported species in its 

 native country. There was probably only one real ^aico in his career. The rapid 

 spread of the Colorado Beetle induced him to predict its speedy appearance in 

 Europe, and this created what amounted to a panic on tliis side of the Atlantic. 

 The Colorado Beetle disappointed him by not acting up to his anticipations, and 

 somehow or other we hear next to nothing of it now in the States. 



Prof. Riley was elected Hon. Fellow of the Entomological Society of London 

 in 1889 ; he was also Hon. Fellow of our Royal Agricultural Society, and of most 

 of the leading Entomological Societies on the Continent. 



We should not omit to mention that he was a candidate for the Hope Professor- 

 ship at Oxford rendered vacant by the death of Prof. Westwood (who had specially 

 notified his wish that Riley should succeed him), but was too late in the field. — 

 R. McLachlan. 



Major John Nathaniel Still, F.E.S., died very suddenly on September 23rd, 

 whilst playing golf on the links at Whitchurch, Tavistock, aged 47. He came of a 

 Devonshire family, and was the sou of Mr. John T. Still, late of Castlehill, Axmins- 

 ter, and Mountfield, Musbury. He entered the army as ensign in the 2oth Regiment 

 (King's Own Scottish Borderers) in June, 1867, and resigned in 1873, but subse- 

 quently became attached to the Royal Wiltshire Regiment, and retired with the 

 rank of Major in 1886. After his retirement his early love of Entomology re-asserted 

 itself, and he devoted most of his time to exploring Dartmoor and other parts of 



