HANS FRUHSTORFER 



It would seem an unpardonable omission not to devote a few words 

 of appreciation and regret to the memory of the late Hans Fruhstorfer 

 in the columns of the "Iris" in which his name was so often to be found 

 and to which he was one of the most prolific and most valuable 

 contributors : 



I feel it is incumbent upon me to fill this historical gap in view of the 

 close scientific association and the warm friendship which united us 

 for over thirty years. I must confess, however, that I have great diffi- 

 culty in finding adequate words wherewith to do justice to Fruhstorfer's 

 entomological eminence, his scientific achievements and the originality of 

 his genius. 



Want of time compels me unfortunately to give nothing but the 

 briefest outline of the most important facts of his life — had I been able 

 to follow the dictates of my heart, I should have written a detailed bio- 

 graphy. 



After having undergone several operations Fruhstorfer succumbed in 

 the night of April 7th to 8th to that fell disease, intestinal cancer. During 

 one of his strenuous expeditions in the tropics (in 1901, when he was 

 exploring the interior of Siam along the Mekong) he contracted dysentry 

 of a malignant type from which he never entirely recovered and which 

 no doubt prepared the ground for the dread germs of cancer of which, 

 alas, so little as yet is known. 



He was laid to rest on April nth. Only very few of his friends were 

 able to accompany him to his last resting place, since he had kept the 

 nature of his illness and its inevitably tragic issue a secret, not only from 

 his friends, but even from his nearest and dearest relations in Switzerland: 

 partly, no doubt, because he, hitherto so active, so vigorous and energetic, 

 could not bear the thought of being pitied in his stricken condition; 

 and partly, perhaps, because it is the fate of those whom true genius 

 sets on a pinnacle to seek even in death the solitude they loved in life. 

 The word "genius" really describes Fruhstorfer. His was a purely 

 entomological and systematic genius, the like of which we have never 

 met before and are not likely to meet again. 



