( clxviii ) 



Yet again — A young French naturalist, commencing a work, 

 which is now the standard authority on its subject, wrote to 

 Kirby, and asked — in ignorance of the Museum regulations — 

 the loan of certain ancient "types." This of course was 

 impossible; but what did Kirby 1 He replied, offering him- 

 self to examine and diagnose all the specimens ; and to look 

 specially into any question of their " characters," as to which 

 his correspondent might wish information. And this he did — 

 greatly assisting the author, and conferring also an obligation 

 on all who use the book. 



On these, and doubtless on many other like occasions, 

 Kirby was thinking simply how he might best serve a col- 

 league, but I believe that in some cases he may also have 

 done real' though undesigned and unsuspected service to the 

 Museum itself. It is in every way to the advantage of such 

 institutions that they should attract to themselves the interest 

 and goodwill of a wide clientele of outsiders, including experts, 

 describers, travellers, explorers, and owners of great private 

 collections (containing, it may be, authors' "types," unique 

 specimens, and rarities of all kinds). And I say this, having 

 in mind actual instances where cordial relations between 

 officials of a Museum and an individual outside it have resulted 

 in serious benefit to the Collections ; and instances also of the 

 reverse ! 



Edouard Brabant died at his native place, Cambrai, Nord, 

 France, on November 29th, in his sixty-fourth year. He was 

 an ardent Lepidopterist from his boyhood, and interested also 

 — as I hear — in every branch of Natural History. He pub- 

 lished several descriptions of Noctuidae from New Guinea. 

 He was elected to our Fellowship in 1893. 



Outside our own body the following Entomologists have 

 passed away within the year, as well as others, doubtless, 

 whose names have escaped my notice. 



The Rev. Canon Thomas Blackburn of Adelaide, in S, 

 Australia, but born in England, and one of the five original 

 Editors of the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. He was a 

 foremost authority on Australian Coleoptera, and described 

 many new forms. His " type "-specimens have recently been 

 acquired by the Natural History Museum. 



