370 Obituary Notices of Fellows deceased. 



troversy on the subject as too theoretical, he preferred to devote 

 himself to work of a more practical kind. 



At one time he attended the Meetings of the Linnean Society with 

 considerable regularity, and served on its Council. He was also 

 present at most of the gatherings of the British Association, of which 

 he was a Member. The Koyal Horticultural Society was another body 

 in which he took an active interest, serving for years on its Scientific 

 Committee. All this active work was in large part abandoned during 

 the last few years of his life. He does not appear to have been at 

 any time actually engaged in business, but was for some years 

 nominally a shipbroker, acting for a single ship the Canaan, of 

 which vessel he, with some of his relatives, was a part owner. For a 

 short time he had an office in the City, and until quite lately used 

 almost daily to visit "the Jerusalem" in order to meet his old 

 friends. 



The death of his two nephews, W. J. and Hugh Wilson, one of 

 whom for some years lived with him, was a very heavy blow, and one 

 from which it is believed he never recovered. For several years 

 McLachlan had suffered more or less from insomnia, causing him a 

 good deal of anxiety, and rendering necessary the employment of 

 special treatment ; it was not, however, until last year that he showed 

 any actual failure of power, but it then became evident to all his 

 friends that he was gradually becoming weaker. Up to a few weeks 

 of his death he was able to discuss matters connected with the 

 Entomological Society and the "Entomologist's Monthly Magazine"" 

 with more or less clearness. About a fortnight before he died he had 

 a paralytic seizure, and complete consciousness never returned. 



The following is a quotation from a letter written to a friend during 

 his last illness : "Unfortunately, with the general health the power of 

 work gradually lessened, to my great grief ; I can only look back and 

 hope I may have done something that is useful to the present and 

 future generations of Neuropterists." 



E. S. 



