120 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



OBITUARY. 

 George Baker. 



At the beginning of last month, in the island of Guernsey, there 

 died at the advanced age of eighty-three years, George Baker, who 

 although probably but little known to the present generation of 

 entomologists, was half a century ago one of the keenest and 

 best of our British Lepidopterists. 



Baker, who was by occupation a gardener, was born at Chelsea. 

 In the late fifties his work took him to Sheffield, where his taste for 

 entomology seems to have been developed by association with several 

 well-known working men collectors who resided there. He was 

 one of the very few lepidopterists who have taken Gastropacha 

 ilicifolia in Britain, of which species, it is recorded in the magazines 

 of that date, he bred two imagines in 1860 from larvae taken the 

 preceding autumn on the moors around Sheffield, which specimens 

 after various vicissitudes came into my possession some years 

 ago. 



Some years later Baker obtained the position of Head Gardener 

 of Coolings Nurseries at Derby, which he held until 1877. It was 

 whilst residing in this town that he became associated with Harper 

 Crewe in working out the life-histories of the Eupithecae ; he was 

 one of Crewe's chief assistants, actually discovering himself the larvae 

 of several species, and assisting with others ; and thus he became 

 known as one of the principal " pug " men of that period. 



He was a very keen and acute field entomologist, and obtained in 

 numbers many species then considered very rare, disposing of his 

 surplus specimens to purchase other species that he wanted for 

 his collection. When I commenced to take an interest in entomology 

 — in 1876 I think it was — I paid him a visit, and well remember his 

 pointing out with pride that his cabinet of about forty drawers was 

 exchanged with a well-known London dealer for the surplus Xanthm 

 gilvago, until then very rare, which he had bred in one season. 

 His specimens were keenly sought after for their perfect setting 

 and condition. 



In 1877 Baker was induced by the late Dr. Mason of Burton-on- 

 Trent to become his Curator, which position he held jointly with the 

 late John Sang, until the close work at his employer's collection 

 resulted in the loss of an eye. 



For a number of years now he had resided in Guernsey, to the 

 fauna of which island, the Rev. F. E. Lowe informs me, he added 

 several species of Lepidoptera, chiefly amongst his favourite genus the 

 Eupithecia ; and continued to take an active interest in entomology 

 until the end, actually calling upon Mr. Lowe with a box of specimens 

 he wished to discuss a few weeks before his death. 



His collection when he left Burton-on-Trent was incorporated 

 with that of Dr. Mason. 



Baker was twice married, his second wife survives him. 



W. G. S. 



