SS =e rl 
Proceedings. xlvii 
Mr. Mennell at the opening of the meeting said :— 
“‘T feel that our first duty, though a mournful one, to-night, 
is to refer to the great loss the Club las sustained since its last 
meeting in the death of our friend and colleague, Mr. Philip 
Crowley. 
‘Tt is the lot of us who are older to see our leaders dropping 
away one by one, and it is with some anxiety that we look for 
those who are ready to take their and our places. 
“Mr. Crowley’s is a loss that it will be difficult to replace. 
To the personal qualifications, the knowledge, and the zeal 
which distinguished him, were added in his case all the material 
advantages of wealth and position, which enabled him to serve 
the Club so well. 
**He was our President in the years 1881 and 1882, and, 
previously to that, for many years our Treasurer. Subsequently, 
and up to the time of his decease, he was one of our Vice- 
’ Presidents, and, until within the last year or two, he was rarely 
absent from our meetings. 
«His superb collections, especially of Diurnal Lepidoptera, 
Birds, and their Nests and Eggs, were ever at the service of the 
Club, and it would be difficult to imagine a Soirée without the 
valuable and constantly varied contributions from his vast 
collections. , 
““Many of our members will long remember the pleasant 
evenings spent at Waddon, when his treasures were freely 
opened to them, and on several occasions Mr. Crowley has 
obtained the services of eminent men, travellers, and naturalists, 
to lecture, on his invitation, to the members and their friends. 
“] think it is fitting that we should place on record our sense 
of the loss we have sustained, and respectfully tender to those 
nearest to him the expression of our sincere sympathy with 
them in their loss. 
**T beg to move that the Officers of the Club be instructed to 
carry this into effect.” 
This proposal, having been seconded, was most cordially 
adopted by the meeting. 
By the courtesy of the Royal Horticultural Society, through 
their Secretary, the Rev. W. Wilks, and the liberality of our 
new President, we are able to give to our members an admirable 
portrait of Mr. Crowley, prepared for the Transactions of the 
R. H. Soe. ; 
Mr. Crowley was the son of Mr. Abraham Crowley, of 
Alton, and was born on August 28th, 1837. Very early in life 
he displayed a strong love for Natural History, especially for 
Ornithology. 
He was for many years Treasurer of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and Chairman of its Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
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