( xlii ) 



in different directions, almost at the same time, and for more 

 than twenty years subsequently we were intimately associated 

 in self-imposed editorial duties. In the early part of this friend- 

 ship we had made many excursions together, even to the extent 

 of sharing semi-starvation (in the early summer of 1865) in the 

 Blacli-wood of Rannoch. It is sometimes said that friendships 

 are the strongest where some ruling point in common draws 

 together temperaments otherwise utterly different ; and I may be 

 allowed to think the case in point was an illustration. If we 

 differed in much we had a bond in common of superior strength. 

 I make no special allusion here to Mr. Rye's entomological 

 labours (they are fresh in the minds of all) save that his 

 name will always be remembered in connection with the study of 

 British Coleoptera ; and it will scarcely be less prominent as 

 coupled with the 'Zoological Record ' and the 'Entomologists' 

 Monthly Magazine.' It may be said that indomitable power of 

 work was his leading characteristic. It mattered not to him 

 whether the work was done purely for the advancement of 

 Entomology, or in fulfilling his engagements j^our vivre ; both 

 conditions were the same to him : and his pastimes were pursued 

 in precisely the same way. In the whole circle of my acquaintance 

 I can recal no one to whom work appeared to be so absolute a 

 necessity. 



I have not been able to collect any information concerning 

 the Rev. D. J. French, who joined us in 18G9, and who died in 

 India in the early part of last year. 



Two British entomologists of note, not belonging to our 

 Society, died in 1885. Joseph Sidebotham, of Manchester (died 

 May 30th, aged 62), was known to many of us (and, if I mistake 

 not, was for some years one of us). His scientific acquirements 

 were very extensive, and he was a munificent supporter of Science 

 in his district. Nicholas Cooke (born at Liverpool, Jan. 14th, 

 1818, who died suddenly near London, when on a visit, 19th May, 

 1885) was a well-known Lepidopterist. 



The annual death-roll also includes the following : — L. R. 

 Meyer-Biir, died at Zurich, March 2nd, aged 73, at that time 

 the oldest Swiss entomologist, one of the founders of the Swiss 

 Entomological Society, and a very prominent worker in several 

 orders. C. Cornelius, of Elborfeld, died April 1st, aged 80, a 

 prominent worker in the anatomy and life-histories of insects. 



