SOMK REMINISCENCES OF TitE LATE PROF. WESTWOOD. 75 



(insects injurious to gardens) was a popular one, and he expected 

 a good audience. Ten minutes before the hour of the lecture next 

 day I duly appeared at the lecture-room, where I found the Pro- 

 fessor completing his arrangements, and making a final disposition 

 of his beautiful drawings and specimens. We remained there 

 chatting for some little time, but no students or other audience 

 appeared. Half an hour passed ; still no arrivals. But the 

 Professor was hopeful (was he not Hope Professor ? but such a 

 horrible joke could not occur to him) : " They will come presently ; 

 they are often rather late." A gentle knock is heard at the door 

 at last. " Come in ; " but no one coming in, the Professor goes 

 to the door. " Is this Professor Westwood's lecture-room ? " 

 asks a little timid voice. "Yes, ma'am; we are all waiting." 

 And the Professor returns, followed by a little, rather elderly, 

 frightened-looking lady, who is duly placed in a front seat ; 

 whereupon, without moving a muscle of his countenance, the 

 Professor begins, and goes through an excellent and interesting 

 lecture, with this little old lady as his whole audience ; for it was 

 only by being employed in assisting him with his drawings and 

 specimens that I could restrain myself from exploding at the 

 absurdity of the whole thing. First and last the Professor 

 was as serious as if the whole University were before him. If 

 he had had even the smallest sense of humour, he must have 

 exploded. After the lecture he merely remarked : " Oh, I daresay 

 there is some cricket match going on to-day; some of the under- 

 graduates do take an interest in Entomology, but there is always 

 boating or cricket going on." I was informed later, from other 

 sources, that the Professor's lectures were not unfrequently 

 attended (or rather not attended) as on the occasion mentioned. 



It must not be imagined for a moment that in recording these 

 little " items " I desire to speak lightly of the Professor. Some 

 of the most enjoyable hours of frequent visits to Oxford, many 

 years ago, were passed in entomological work in his rooms at the 

 Museum, as well as in his own house ; and I never experienced 

 at his hands anything but the readiest and most abundant 

 courtesy, hospitality, and help. 



He was, I fancy, about the last survivor of the older genera- 

 tion of entomologists. There may be abler specialists among 

 the present generation, but none, I suspect, who will command 

 more universal regard, either as a man or a scientist, than my 

 old and valued friend J. O. Westwood. 



