306 MEMOIR OF 
changes which occurred in descriptions of very 
abstruse derivation. 
Whenever he was so fortunate as to find in the 
works of foreign authors an engraving of any 
insect or plant he was studying, he had a sure 
resource in the friendship of the very learned 
President of our Natural History Society, who 
most willingly translated the description for him, 
but I am not aware of any other aid which he 
could reckon upon. 
It is gratifying to learn that amongst the com- 
panions of Hobson yet surviving, there is but one 
feeling as to the superiority and extent of his 
knowledge, and the perfect honesty and simplicity 
of his character. Shaw, of Bollington, thus writes 
of him in September, 1830,— “Hobson intro- 
duced himself to me about sixteen or eighteen 
years ago, by a visit to my little botanic garden, 
as a collector of specimens, and, from his first 
interview, our communications were made with 
that frank and open generosity which was so 
conspicuous in his character.” Horsefield, of 
Whitefield, in a long and valuable communi- 
cation to John Hampson, says, ‘Hobson was a 
profound practical Muscologist, and never could 
