OBITUARY. 263 



Mr. Tillyard, in addition to his own extensive work on the subject, 

 has collated the scattered material and given us a more or less 

 complete account of the biology of the dragonfly as well as its 

 morphology and anatomy. 



Although sufficiently popular for anyone acquainted with the 

 insecta generally, the work is not elementary and presupposes some 

 little preliminary knowledge of an insect. Popular books on natural 

 history may be found by the score : real students do, however, exist 

 amongst entomologists, and Mr. Tillyard is writing for them, but 

 they need not fear to get out of their depth. One point which 

 struck us particularly was the wealth of illustrations, particularly 

 good, and nearly all original. There are, in fact, 188 figures, besides 

 four plates and a map. They can scarcely be too highly praised. 



Living in Australia — at Sydney — Mr. Tillyard naturally uses 

 Australian material in most cases for his experiments and researches, 

 but in a biological treatise this does not matter. Further, he has 

 added a very useful summary of the British species — now, owing to 

 additions and subtractions as our knowledge has increased during 

 the last quarter of a century, found to be 42 (with still the chance 

 of increase). The nymphs (we still prefer the term, although our 

 author uses larva) are, of course, less known, but our knowledge is 

 increasing. Mr. Tillyard seems to think some of the Symijetra 

 inseparable, but for British species this may not be impossible. In 

 this genus the dorsal and lateral hooks are a help in classification. 



Attention is called to the large amount of protective coloration 

 that dragonflies display. In the case of the nymphs this is very 

 obvious ; but it is very pronounced also in the imago. Examination 

 " in the field " soon bears this out. The spots and bands of the 

 large species hide them effectively when they rest on foliage or tree 

 trunk. 



Mr. Tillyard deserves the thanks of odonatists for his stimulating 

 book, and the Cambridge Press are to be congratulated on the way 

 in which they have produced it. W. J. Lucas. 



OBITUARY. 

 EiCHARD S. Standen, F.L.S., F.E.S. 

 Born October 11th, 1835. Died July 29th, 1917. 

 At the ripe age of eighty-two there has passed from among us one 

 of the most enthusiastic lepidopterists and botanists of our time. 

 By all who knew him, whether as artist, musician, or collector, 

 Eichard Standen will always be remembered as the most energetic, 

 cheerful, and able exponent of the particular art, science, or hobby 

 which for the time being occupied his busy leisure. Born at Oxford, 

 and educated at King's College, London, he was engaged in com- 

 merce until the age of forty-five, from which time onwards, having 

 already accumulated at home and abroad a useful knowledge of 

 science generally, he devoted himself heart and soul to his activities. 

 An expert linguist, he was well equipped for the many foreign ex- 

 peditions made in search of specimens. He spoke French as his 

 mother-tongue, was fluent in German and Italian, and late in life 



