334 THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 



of Pyralis farinalis, L., and a streaked variety of Botys urtiealis, Schiff. 

 Mr. Hawes, living larvae of Syrichthus malvcs, L., and Nisoniades tages, L. 

 — H. W. Barker, Hon. Sec. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — July WtJi, 1891. — Mr. R. C. 

 Bradley in the chair. Mr. G. H. Verrall, F.E.S., was present, and 

 delivered a lecture on " Diptera." He said he had come down with the 

 hope of inducing members to take up the study of the group, which 

 possessed many recommendations not possessed by the other orders of 

 insects. It is almost unworked, so much so that all workers are bound to 

 be able to do some original work. Unlike Lepidoptera and other well- 

 worked orders, which hardly ever receive an addition to the British list, the 

 Diptera can be added to extensively, and he had added some hundreds of 

 species already. Another recommendation to the group is that it is not 

 necessary to go far for fresh material to work at; in his own garden, at 

 Newmarket, he had taken 500 species. He briefly described the classifica- 

 tion and characters of the orders, and then took the various families in 

 review, describing all their salient points, and giving many interesting 

 particulars about them. Mr. C. J. Wainwright proposed a vote of thanks, 

 which was seconded by Mr. C. H. Kenrick, supported by Dr. Mason, and 

 replied to by Mr. Verrall. — Colbran J. Wainwright, Ho7i. Sec. 



OBITUARY. 



With deep regret we recorded, in our last number, the death of 

 Mr. Ferdinand Grut, F.L.S., the Honorary Librarian of the Entomolo- 

 gical Society of London. Mr. Grut was elected a Fellow of the Linnean 

 Society on 1st February, 1872, but his connection with the Entomological 

 Society was much earlier, he having been elected in 1846 ; and, after having 

 served on the Council, was chosen as one of the Secretaries on 23rd January, 

 1871, and worthily filled that office until 16th January, 1878, when he 

 undertook the duties of Honorary Librarian. To say that he efficiently 

 performed the duties of that office up to the time of his lamented decease, 

 would but feebly convey the value of his services to the Society. Mr. Grut 

 was almost every Wednesday in the library, and was engaged for years in 

 preparing a complete catalogue of the books. This he had finished ; and it 

 was with hope that he looked forward to the period when it would be printed 

 for the use of the Fellows. The Society could not indeed pay a more graceful 

 tribute to his memory than at once to take steps to have the Grut catalogue 

 published. Mr. Grut was one of those excellent men who did good, one 

 might say, by stealth, and would have gladly avoided the warm recognition 

 of his valuable services, which at each annual meeting was so enthusiastically 

 given by the Fellows of the Society. Mr. Grut was for many years engaged 

 in the study of the Geodephaga, of which he possessed a very valuable 

 collection. By the death of Mr. Grut, on 19th July, at the age of 71, the 

 Entomological Society of London sustains an almost irreparable loss. It is 

 improbable that a successor, in the office of Honorary Librarian, could be 

 found who would devote so large a portion of time as one day each week to 

 the duties of that position. All who knew Mr. Grut will regret to lose a 

 kind-hearted and courteous man, of singularly equable and amiable 

 disposition. — J. J. W. 



