VOL. XVI. (1) OBITUARY 87 
OBITUARY NOTICES 
CHARLES JAMES WATKINS, F.E.S. 
(Plate VIII.) 
Although not’a Member of the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club, 
the late Mr Charles J. Watkins, F.E.S., of Watledge, near Nailsworth, 
and for many years a resident at Kingsmill House, Painswick, was an 
intimate acquaintance of several Members, and was known personally 
to others. This, combined with the excellent work he accomplished 
as a field-naturalist, has been considered sufficient reason for referring 
to him in the Club’s Proceedings. As a schoolboy, he received 
encouragement from the late Mr Moses Pullen, head-master of the 
National School at Painswick, a man who may be described as a 
pioneer of the movement now set on foot and being extensively 
adopted in elementary schools for the systematic study of nature. The 
taste acquired thus early in life increased with advancing years, 
although the opportunity for gratifying it was, during the greater 
portion of his life, sadly impeded by business duties and ill-health. 
When it is remembered that Mr Watkins had to submit to several 
severe operations for an internal malady which kept him more or less 
an invalid for upwards of thirty years, we can only marvel at the 
knowledge he obtained, and the willingness with which he assisted 
others, This latter was a striking and pleasing feature in his disposi- 
tion. Recognising how small was the number of those who applied 
themselves with real earnestness to the study of entomology, he 
did all in his power to foster a love for research, both in the field and 
by the slower process of working out the life-histories at home. In 
this way he secured for himself a valuable collection, and inspired 
many a young beginner to follow in his footsteps. 
His contribution to the ‘‘Flora and Fauna of Gloucestershire ” 
may be pointed to as evidence of his painstaking labours. At the time 
the book was published it is improbable that any other entomologist 
could have given us more complete lists of the Macro-lepidoptera to 
be found in the county, or have furnished more interesting and 
instructive notes. Never jumping to hasty conclusions, Mr Watkins 
was always a safe guide to follow, and as a result he enjoyed a 
wide correspondence with workers in all parts of the country. As far 
back as 1859 he found the large blue butterfly (Z. arion) in the 
Cotteswold Hills, near Gloucester, and subsequently obtained eggs 
of the species, having watched a female specimen lay them singly 
on sprays of wild thyme. Although the eggs were distributed to some 
of the best working entomologists (in some cases with growing plants 
on which they were laid), none succeeded in bringing the young larve 
through the hybernating stage. 
