168 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 
OBITUARY. 
Che Late John Alston Moftat. 
Death has again thinned the already small number left of the 
old time active members of the Hamilton Scientific Association by 
claiming John Alston Moffat, who for many years was one of the 
most regular and active members of the Association. 
Mr. Moffat was born on the family estate of Milton, about three 
miles from the City of Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1825. 
Through business misfortune his father lost his wealth and removed 
to the City of Glasgow and engaged in mercantile pursuits, but not 
liking city life he came to Canada alone, purposing to seek a home 
for his family in this new country. Soon after he left- Scotland his 
wife, Mr. Moffat’s mother, died. He at once sent for his family, 
who landed at New York on July rst, 1836, and settled in the Town- 
ship of Nassagaweya. ‘There the father married again. 
The homestead is still in possession of the’ only son of that 
marriage. After a time John’s eldest brother, William, took up 
land and settled in the Township of Binbrook, and John Alston 
made his home there for some years. 
After a time he came into this city and engaged in business as 
a merchant tailor, but being in indifferent health he was in the habit 
of taking long walks in the open country as a relaxation from busi- 
ness. It was during these walks that he formed those habits of ob- 
servation in relation to insect life which he saw around him that 
shaped all his future career. He found so much enjoyment in the 
capturing of insects and observing their life history, and became so 
absorbed in the science of entomology that in spite of considerable 
good natured ridicule from his friends he gave up his city business 
altogether, and ‘‘ going from bad to worse,” as he expressed it, de- 
voted his whole time to the study of insect life. 
He soon became well known to all the entomologists of Canada, 
as well as to many in the United States, and was a most industrious 
