94 



Mr. Spence contributed several notices to the early Meetings of this 

 Society, and in April, 1834 read some " Observations upon a mode 

 practised in Italy of excluding the House Fly from Apartments," 

 which was published as the first paper in the first volume of our 

 ' Transactions.' 



In the year 1847 Mr. Spence was elected President of this Society, 

 and it was vei-y much owing to his exertions during the period that 

 he occupied the chair that we recovered from the extreme depression, 

 both in numbers and in fimds, under which we were suffering at that 

 time. He continued very regularly to attend our Meetings till about 

 six years ago, when an increasing deafness prevented him from 

 deriving amusement from our discussions, but his interest in Ento- 

 mology suffered no abatement, and any one who wanted his counsel 

 on any point connected with the Science was sure that it would be 

 heartily rendered. He had always a kind word of encouragement, 

 and was ready even to go considerably out of his way to render a 

 service to his friends. 



So few years have elapsed since Mr. Spence was himself contributing 

 notes to the obituary notice of Mr. Kirby that we are apt to overlook 

 the difference in age between Kirby and Spence. Mr. Kirby was 

 ordained the year before Mr. Spence was born ; in short, he was 24 

 years his senior. Mr. Kirby died in the fulness of years, at the age 

 of 91. Mr. Spence survived his coadjutor ten years, but died at the 

 age of 77. His loss will long be felt by this Society, and by Ento- 

 mology in general. 



Another loss we have to deplore is that of Dr. Horsfleld, who had 

 the charge of the zoological treasures at the Museum of the East 

 India House. 



Fifty years ago Dr. Horsfield was located in Java, and from the 

 years 1809 to 1816 he was actively employed in collecting information 

 with regard to the insect inhabitants of Java and the neighbouring 

 islands. Dr. Horsfields' own account of his doings at that time is 

 too interesting not to merit a place here. 



" Early in 1815 I resumed my entomological pursuits with 

 renewed energy. 1 had now acquired greater experience in collecting : 

 a number of natives had been instructed for affording that assistance 

 which in a hot climate was not only necessary, but greatly conduced 

 to the enlargement of my investigations. I was amply provided with 

 every convenience and facility for preserving what I had collected. 

 Several draughtsmen had likewise been trained, under my super- 



