OBITUARY. 47 



One of the tasks most useful to the student of British Lepidop- 

 tera he undertook was the examination of the genitalia of that 

 difficult group the Scoparidae. This is to be found in the ' Transactions 

 the Entomological Society ' for 1911, pp. 501-518 and plates xxxv- 

 xliv. The examination did not disclose any new species, but it cleared 

 up several doubtful points, and established as good species some that 

 had hitherto been considered doubtful. A most important paper is 

 entitled "A Eevision of the Genus Erebia, Based upon the Examination 

 of the Male Appendages " it is to be found in the ' Transactions of the 

 Entomological Society ' for 1898, pp. 209-239 and plates v-xvi. It 

 was written in connection with an equally important paper on the genus 

 entitled " A Eevision " by Mr. H. J. Elwes, which precedes it. One 

 of his principal earlier papers is the first article published in the first 

 volume of his friend Tutt's magazine, the ' Entomologist's Eecord,' 

 "The Genus Acronycta and its Allies," dealing with all the species 

 in that very composite group, and splitting them up into several 

 new genera. The details are worked out in his usual thorough style, 

 and all the stages are exhaustively treated. 



Dr. Chapman was a supporter of the law of priority in nomen- 

 clature, in the most pronounced sense of the word. He held that a 

 name once given must stand unaltered, no matter if it was ungram- 

 matical, or even misspelt. He would argue, if you once permit 

 alterations there is no tribunal with authority to bid you where to 

 stop. The present writer is of opinion that his views were entirely 

 justified. 



He was one of the strongest exponents of the doctrine that we 

 cannot satisfactorily classify species by one character alone, no matter 

 whether it is by the ova, larva or pupa stage, or by structure and 

 markings of the imagine, but that we must take everything into 

 consideration. There does not seem to be any reason to doubt but 

 that this view will ultimately prevail. 



. Dr. Chapman made many expeditions, in search principally of 

 Lepidoptera, to various parts of Europe; prominent amongst these 

 were several journeys to Spain, in which he was accompanied by his 

 friend Mr. G. C. Champion. These expeditions were designedly 

 directed to unworked districts and resulted in several important 

 entomological discoveries ; the records he has given of them are 

 amongst the most fascinating of their kind that have ever been 

 written. 



He possessed one of the finest and most complete entomological 

 libraries owned by any private individual in this country, practically 

 everything that has been written upon the Palaearctic Lepidoptera 

 being included in it. 



" The Doctor " was a very regular attendant at the meetings of the 

 various scientific societies of which he was a member, took much 

 interest in their proceedings, and usually contributed something of 

 weight on the subjects discussed. He was Vice-President of the 

 Entomological Society on half a dozen occasions, and often served on 

 the Council. Eor some unknown reason, although repeatedly invited, 

 and even pressed, he declined the Presidentship, which had been held 

 by Alfred Eussel Wallace, H. W. Bates, Lord Avebury, Lord 

 Walsingham, H. T. Stainton, and most of the great British 



