72 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



earliest the writer can trace is ah announcement that he had bred 

 Eudemis ewphorbiana ; this note appeared in the ' E.M.M.,' vol. v, 

 p. 106 (1868). 



He was the discoverer of Bhyacionia purdeyi, a Tortrix new to 

 science, which the describer, Mr. J. H. Durrant, named after him, 

 ' E.M.M.,' vol. xlvii, p. 252. He also reinstated Hellensia carpho- 

 dactyla in the British^list, ' Ent. Eecord,' vol. xix, p. 78. 



His last note appears to have been on the discovery of the larva 

 of the very local plume, Qxyptilus pilosellae, for which he had dis- 

 covered a locality near Folkestone, ' Entomologist,' vol. xliii, p. 89 

 (1910). He also described the larva of Lozopera beatricella, ' Ento- 

 mologist,' vol. xxxii, p. 306. 



Amongst the most notable of his captures were a specimen of 

 Aplasta ononaria, one of about half-a-dozen that have ever been found 

 in Britain, and one of Diasemia ramburialis, of which species Barrett 

 states " seven examples have occurred in Britain " ; he also records 

 the capture by himself of Argynnis lathonia and Euvanessa antiopa at 

 Folkestone. 



Purdey was famous for his captures of the rare and beautiful 

 forms of Peronea cristana occurring at Folkestone, including those 

 of ab. purdeyana, named after him by S. Webb. Of this form every 

 specimen known (about a dozen in number), except one, was taken 

 by Purdey. 



Of the extremely rare and beautiful ab. tolana, Desvignes, he took 

 five examples, and also perhaps the most beautiful specimen in 

 existence, the one Clark took for his type of ab. charlottana, which 

 is, however, identical with the form named previously by Desvignes 

 ab. mrtisana. The most abundant white form, ab. subcapucina, 

 Desvgs., extremely rare elsewhere than at Folkestone, he captured in 

 scores ; the writer possesses thirty of these, and has seen a consider- 

 able number in other collections. 



Purdey possessed his powers unimpaired almost to the last, and 

 made many captures during the past summer ; two years ago he 

 indulged in a day's collecting involving a walk of at least twenty-five 

 miles ! 



He had an excellent collection of the groups he studied, and the 

 writer well remembers with what surprise he looked through it a 

 few years ago, and saw the long rows of rare species, all of his own 

 capturing. There were very few occurring in the south-east of 

 England that he could not obtain as many examples as he required, 

 when necessary ! 



During his long life he became associated more or less intimately 

 with practically every lepidopterist who was his contemporary, 

 including Howard Vaughan, P. B. Mason, J. A. Clark, C. A. Briggs, 

 W. P. Weston, Sydney Webb, Battershell Gill, and very many 

 others. 



Purdey was something more than a very capable field lepidopterist. 

 In all his actions he was honest, straightforward and honourable ; a 

 man whose word was to be trusted, and who thought and spoke of 

 his fellow men with kindness and courtesy. 



He had earned the respect and esteem of all who came into 

 contact with him. W. G, S, 



February 15th, 1922, 



