1888.] 235 



Dr. John Thomas Boswell, F.L.S. (formerly known as Dr. Boswell Syme), died 

 at Balmuto, Fifeshire, on January 31st, aged 66. He was born at Edinburgh, and 

 educated as a Civil Engineer, and, for a time, followed his profession. But his name 

 will always be associated with the second edition of "Sowerby's English Botany," 

 which he brought to a successful conclusion. For a time he was Lecturer on Botany 

 at the Charing Cross and Middlesex Hospitals. Practically a Botanist, he took an 

 interest in Entomology also, and formed a fine collection of British Lepidopier a, hnt 

 as an Entomologist he is perhaps almost forgotten by the present generation. He 

 was especially fortunate in his treatment of the larger Sphingidce-, especially 

 Deilephila galii, and a chronological account of his experiences with regard to this 

 insect appeared in Vol. ii of tliis Magazine (1865), but outside botanical subjects he 

 wrote little, and his habits were essentially quiet and retiring. On the death of a 

 relative some 20 years ago, he succeeded to the estate at Balmuto (and dropped the 

 name of "Syme"), where liis family is said to have existed continuously since the 

 14th century. 



William Farren, of 14, King's Parade, Cambridge, died on the 21st November, 

 1887, at the age of 51. He was one of the early Members of the Cambridge 

 Entomological Society, where, as far back as 1857, he exhibited Micro-Lepidoptera 

 captured by him in Kent; he afterwards made various collecting expeditions to 

 Wicken Fen, to Suffolk, and to the New Forest, and where, in 1861, he resided five 

 months. Entomology then became squeezed out with him by other occupations, 

 such as Photography and Eose-growing. But, latterly, the pursuit of Entomology 

 was again taken up, and, assisted by his son, his collection rapidly increased. 



The . South London Entomological and Nattteal Histoey Society : 

 January 26t7i, 1888.— T. E. Billups, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Tugwell exhibited, for comparison, German and Welsh specimens oi Xylina 

 furcifera, Hufn. Mr. J. Stringer, varied series of Hyhernia defoliaria, Clerck. 

 Mr. Cooper remarked that whilst searching for H. leucoplicearia, during the previous 

 week, he had seen numbers of H. defoliaria at rest on the trees, and it now seemed 

 usual to meet with this species in the spring. Mr. Adkin, bred specimens of Ftilo- 

 phora plumigera, Esp., which had recently emerged, and thought that the cold 

 weather experienced at the time the species usually appeared had kept them back. 

 Mr. Cai-rington contributed notes as to the effect of temperature on the emergence 

 of Lepidoptera. Mr. Tutt, on behalf of Mr. Aldcrson, varieties of Aplecta tincta, 

 Brahm., Scopelosoma satellitia, L., Anaitis plagiata, L., a melanic specimen of 

 Fhigalia pedaria, Fb., and a curious form of Tceniocampa munda, Esp., which he 

 stated were all taken in the neighbourhood of Bromley. Mr. Carrington said that 

 he had frequently taken this form of T. munda. Mr. Billups, on behalf of 

 Mr.W. F. de V. Kane, Shopalomesiies Tardii, Curt., from Killarney and Powerscourt, 

 Ireland, and invited remarks upon the same as regards variation ; the pale forms, 

 however, were considered to be immature. Mr. Dobson read a paper on " Darwinism," 

 which was followed by a discussion. 



February 2th, 1888. — The President in the Chair. 



Messrs. F. Warne, N.Warae, A. T. Mitchell, F. E. Strong, and P. C. C. Billups, 



M.D., were elected Members. 



U 2 



