104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Sec, F. N. Pierce, read a paper entitled " Notes on the genital armature 

 of the genus Miana" in which he referred to the recent controversy 

 respecting the distinctiveness of the two species, M. strigilis and 

 M. fasciuiicula, and proved, by the examination of the structure of the 

 genital armature, that they were specifically different ; the paper was 

 illustrated by the author's preparations thrown on a screen, by the aid of 

 oxy-hydrogen Micro lantern ; aud exhibits of specimens from various parts 

 of the country by the President and members. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec. 



OBITUARY. 



Robert Calvert, of Bishop Auckland, in the county of Durham, died 

 on the 21st of February last, in the 76th year of his age. Mr. Calvert 

 commenced his business career as a printer in his native town, but subse- 

 quently he went to Sunderland, where he successfully carried on a grocery 

 business. Ultimately, however, he returned to Bishop Auckland, and 

 became the leading auctioneer aud valuer of the district. Throughout an 

 active and busy life, he always found time to study the fauna and flora of 

 the county of Durham ; and perhaps there are few men so intimate with the 

 Natural History of their own county as Mr. Calvert was with that of his. 

 No natural object, whether animate or inanimate, was passed unheeded. If 

 it was known to him, then perhaps the locality in which it occurred would 

 he new, and the circumstance be duly noted. If, on the other hand, the 

 object was something with which he was unacquainted, it was secured, and 

 the work entailed in its subsequent identification looked upon as a distinct 

 pleasure. His entomological collections testify to the assiduity with which he 

 investigated this section of his county's fauna. Although he persistently 

 refrained from taking an active part in the discussion of scientific matters, he 

 had well-formed opinions on most of the questions which exercise >the 

 minds of naturalists generally and entomologists in particular. His 

 memory was a veritable storehouse of facts and observations ; and it was 

 this which lent a special charm to his companionship in an entomological 

 ramble, for he always had some interesting reminiscence in connection with 

 almost every nook and corner of his native county. In 1884 he published 

 a most interesting and valuable book, entitled ' Notes on the Geology and 

 Natural History of the county of Durham,' in the preface to which he 

 ^rote : — " For upwards of fifty years of a busy life, the observation of 

 Natural History objects and the collection of specimens have formed the 

 recreation of my leisure hours, and, in the retrospect of the past, yield 

 unalloyed satisfaction and pleasure. About two years since, affliction 

 forced me to give up the active duties of life, and since that time I have 

 had to spend the greater portion of my time at home, deprived of the 

 longed-for rambles to which the pursuit of Natural History ever gives a 

 charm. To occupy my time, I commenced to write the notes which have 

 swelled out to the present volume ; and some of my friends thinking they 

 may be of service in directing youth in the pursuit of Geology and Natural 

 History, they are now submitted for their use." The perusal of this book 

 causes one to feel regret that it is the only contribution to Natural History 

 literature from his able pen. — R. S. 



