1893.] " , 73 



Coccids ? It is necessary, in the case of these, insects, whicli cannot be displayed 

 like the Lepidoptera, to have them in situ on pieces of twigs or leaves which they 

 naturally inhabit. A Coccid cabinet, therefore, is not so pretty an object as if it 

 contained butterflies and motlis, and as I have striven to make mine as completely 

 t"yj)ical as possible, it looks, to the naked eye, only a collection of sticks and leaves 

 with ornamental labels. Now, these sticks and leaves, naturally, I suppose, attract 

 moisture. Moreover, the climate of this place (Wellington), which has the sea 

 almost all round it, is anything but a dry one ; and the hot days are generally the 

 dampest ; also the air is often full of sea salt. Consequently, my specimens persist 

 in becoming more or less subject to small white mould. Wherever I can, I touch 

 them with a little alcohol ; but this is not good, as it is apt to injure the cottony 

 secretions of the specimens. What ought I to do ? I am constantly using the 

 drawers, and so do not want, if it can be avoided, to employ any stinking chemicals 

 which might annoy others in the house. — W. M. Maskeli, Wellington, New 

 Zealand : November 23i'd, 1892. 



[We shall be glad of suggestions. — Eds.]. 



The Rev. Francis Orpen Morris, B.A., died at Nunburnholme Rectory, York- 

 shire, on February lOth, 1893, at the age of 82. He wrote a series of highly 

 illustrated works on British Butterflies and Moths, Birds, Birds' Eggs, &c. 



Edward Parjitt was born near Norwich, on October 17th, 1820, and died at 

 Exeter on January 15th, 1892. His father was head gardener to the Dean of Here- 

 ford, and afterwards to Lord Hastings, and young Parfitt commenced life as a 

 gardener under his father, and very early showed a passion for Natural History. It 

 was probably this that induced him as a lad to go to sea : he made one voyage to 

 the Cape, was wrecked there, and occupied himself by collecting the plants and 

 insects of Cape Town. On his return, he resumed horticultural occupation, and in 

 that capacity went to Devonshire about 1850, and subsequently became Curator of 

 the Taunton Museum. In 1861, he became Librarian of the Devon and Exeter 

 Institution at Exeter, and remained such until his death. During the whole of this 

 latter period he devoted himself with ardour to the study of the Fauna of Devon 

 in all its branches, and his memoirs on this subject were published in the Proceedings 

 of the Devonshire Association for the advancement of Science. He accumulated 

 large local collections, both zoological and botanical. It will be gathered from the 

 above sketch of his life that Parfitt was essentially a self-educated man: his passion 

 for Natui'al History was intense, and he would have done better work had he not aimed 

 too high by trying too much. He will be much missed at Exeter. We take this 

 opportunity of mentioning that the note-books, &c., containing mostly unpublished 

 material, left by the late Rev. J. Hellins, came into Mr. Stainton's possession, and 

 were by him presented to the Devon and Exeter Institution shortly before his death. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — Annual Meeting : Fehruary QtJi^ 

 1893.— Mr. W. Gr. Blatch, President, in the Chair. 



The Annual Reports of the Council and Treasurer were presented, the latter 

 showing but the very light balance in hand of £1 2s. Id. The following were 



