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the decease of Dr, J. H. Bailey, well known for his work on 

 the Coleoptera of the Isle of Man. 



Transatlantic entomolocry has suffered a severe loss in the 

 <ieath of the veteran traveller and naturalist W. H. Edwards, 

 who passed away at the age of 87. It is well for us to 

 remember that it was the narrative of his early travels 

 on the Amazon that helped to inspire Bates and Wallace to 

 undertake their famous expedition in that region. Those of 

 us who know Edwards's splendid volumes on the Butterflies 

 of North America will, I think, agree that the plates in that 

 work reach a point of excellence that in their way has never 

 been surpassed. 



Another veteran on last year's death-roll is the great cole- 

 opterist Professor Gustav Kraatz of Berlin. It is pleasant to 

 remember that he was a Fellow of our Society for over thirty 

 years, only resigning after failing eyesight had practically put 

 an end to his active work. He died on November 2nd of last 

 year at the age of 78. We all remember the sympathetic 

 words which fell from his friend, Dr. Karl Jordan, on the 

 occasion of the announcement of his decease to this Society. 

 An appreciative account of his life and work from the pen of 

 Dr. Joi'dan appears in the current issue of one of the 

 entomological monthlies. 



Lastly, we cannot, as naturalists, pass over without notice 

 the death of Professor Fritz Homer, Director of the Frank- 

 fort Museum of Natural History, who died on the 20th of 

 March after a short illness. His sei-vices to that Institution 

 were very great, and his admirable personal qualities endeared 

 him not only to his colleagues, but also to all who sought 

 assistance from his wide and varied leai'ning. 



It would not be possible for me in the time at my disposal 

 to notice a tenth part of the publications interesting to 

 Entomologists that have appeared during the past year. 

 Important works by Fellows of our own Society are " Mendel's 

 Principles of Heredity," by Professor Bateson, whom we are 

 glad to congratulate on his appointment as Director of the 

 John Innes Horticultural Institution at Merton, and " Charles 

 Darwin and the Origin of Species," by our former President, 

 Professor Poulton. The latter book, issued on the fiftieth 



