96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



OBITUARY. 



R. BowEN Robertson, 1860-1919. 



It would seem that Major Robertson first began to take up 

 entomology about 1887, when he was living at Hartley Wintney, 

 near Winchfield, for he had then a very small collection and confined 

 himself to Lepidoptera. Not only, however, was the locality in 

 which he was living one of the best in England for a collector of that 

 Order of insects, but Major Robertson was able to get the run of the 

 Bramshill estate, which is specially good for some species, and, being 

 strictly closed to the public, was practically an untouched hunting- 

 ground. He was also free to devote his whole time to the pursuit, 

 with the exception of a short period of training each year with the 

 Militia, and even then, being near Swansea in another good district, 

 he was able to give some attention to insects. 



Being a very quick and indefatigable observer little escaped his 

 eye or his net, and though later on his activity was much impaired 

 by an accident which rendered him somewhat of a cripple for life, he 

 still struggled about undauntedly after his prey, while his powers of 

 observation remained as keen as ever. 



A few years later he left Hartley Wintney for Pokesdown, near 

 Bournemouth, where he was able to find the extremely local British 

 dragonfly, Oxygastra curtisii, Dale, while he and his daughter Nellie 

 re-discovered the Giant Earwig, Labidura rijmria, Pallas. It was at 

 this time that he commenced to make a collection of dragonflies, 

 while later on he extended his researches to tlie sawflies and other 

 insects. After some years he left Pokesdown and removed to 

 Chandler's Ford, where he was residing at the time of his death. 

 His insects, which by his wish are to be sold at Stevens' Auction 

 Rooms, are particularly well set. 



Although lame, during the war he rejoined the army as a Second 

 Lieutenant in the Royal Defence Corps, but on demobilisation he 

 recommenced in 1919 his old pursuit, appearing to be quite well and 

 not nearly so lame as heretofore. That he did not entirely forsake 

 entomology even during the war is evidenced by the list of captures 

 (published in the ' Entomologist ') which he made at Oare Camp, 

 near Faversham, where he was stationed. 



Major Robertson was a whole-hearted, keenly-observant, and 

 most successful entomologist, a pleasant companion, and a faithful 

 friend. The entomological world is the poorer for his loss, and 

 especially so are those who were reckoned amongst his personal 

 associates. W. J. L. 



