196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The groups constituting the order are most heterogeneous, with life- 

 histories as varied as their appearance. Add to this that the order 

 contains some of the more ancient iusects, and it is safe to say that in 

 clearing the path for future students, Mr. McLachlan did a good work 

 indeed. In 1805 appeared a monograph of the British Trichoptera, 

 which was followed in 1867 by one on the Psocidia ; while the next 

 year — 1868 — saw the Planipennia similarly treated. In 1870 (assisted 

 by Rev. A. E. Eaton in the Ephemeridia) appeared a ' Catalogue of 

 the British Neuroptera,' whicli, though many additions have since been 

 made to the list, has been of great use to students of the Order. 

 But Mr. McLachlan's viagnwii opus is the ' Monographic Revision and 

 Synopsis of the Trichoptera of the European Fauna (1874-1884),' a 

 work of the very first importance in zoological literature. 



Besides these larger works, appeared articles and pamphlets in- 

 numerable in the transactions of learned societies, and in various 

 periodicals, especially in the ' Entomologists' Monthly Magazine,' of 

 which, from its start in 1864, he had been the editor. His connection 

 with entomologists (neuropterists especially) was world-wide, and his 

 collections of Neuroptera therefore are amongst the finest in the world. 



Mr. McLachlan paid frequent visits to the Continent, and was 

 honorary member of the entomological societies of many of the Euro- 

 pean States. Of the Entomological Society of London he had been a 

 member for nearly half a century, having been Secretary and President, 

 and holding the office of Treasurer at the time of his death. In 1877 

 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was, in addition. Fellow 

 of the Linnean Society, the Royal Horticultural Society, aud the 

 Zoological Society. He took a deep interest in the West Kent Natural 

 History, Microscopical, and Photographic Society, which he joined in 

 1873, and of which he was President in 1892 and 1893. 



With the death a year or two since of the venerable Baron de Selys 

 Longchamps, Mr. McLachlan was led facile princeps amongst students 

 of the Neuroptera, and we shall probably look around in vain for any- 

 one capable, in the immediate future, of adequately filling his place. 



W. J. L. 



Obituary. — We are very sorry to hear that Mr. Edward E. G. J. 

 Sparke, B.A., F.E.S., of 1, Christchurch Villas, Upper Tooting, S.W., 

 died somewhat suddenly in the early part of last May. He was an en- 

 thusiastic collector, and close observer of the habits of insects, chiefly 

 Lepidoptera. The Tuddenham fauna received a considerable share 

 of his attention, but he was also well acquainted with the Lepidoptera 

 of certain localities in Surrey that he particularly favoured. Although 

 he did not contribute much to its literature, he possessed a wide know- 

 ledge of his subject, and this was always at the service of anyone who 

 sought information from him. He was a genial companion, and by 

 those who knew him personally will be greatly missed. 



