286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



in the first instance, he discovered an object that would help 

 to make the chain complete ; and, in the second place, — not 

 so difficult a matter as the first, but an undertaking, never- 

 theless, requiring much discrimination, — until he found some 

 friend to the Society who was willing to increase its stores. 

 And so the work went on from year to year; Mr. Denny 

 never happier than when, at the commencement of each 

 session, he could read long lists of contributions, and found 

 the lecture-table too small for the first public presentation of 

 newly-acquired treasures. The acquisition of specimens, 

 however, does not represent the most important part of 

 Mr. Denny's duties. So soon as he became connected with 

 the association he set himself to arrange and classify the 

 objects under his care; and as these objects increased, and 

 the building in which they were displayed was extended, 

 he found before him duty requiring the closest application 

 and the exercise of the greatest care. In this work he 

 received much assistance from the late Mr. John Hey, and 

 the result was that he had not been curator more than a very 

 few years before the museum received as thorough are-organ- 

 isation as was then possible. It was not until 1858, however, 

 that that admirable arrangement of the specimens, which is 

 now so pleasant a sight to every visitor to the museum, was 

 fairly commenced. In that year the arrangement was improved 

 in anticipation of the visit to Leeds of the British Association, 

 and Mr. Denny then succeeded in completing several 

 important groups in the animal kingdom that were either 

 wanting or imperfectly represented. During the session 

 1831 — 3 Mr. Denny was appointed an honorary member of 

 the Society ; and, in the course of time, his desiguation 

 of sub-curator was withdrawn in favour of the name of general 

 curator and assistant-secretary, which more clearly indicated 

 the position he held of late years. In the session 1849 — 50 

 a series of meteorological instruments were presented to the 

 Society ; and with these, and other instruments subsequently 

 acquired, Mr. Denny was in the habit of filling up the very 

 elaborate and interesting tables provided by the British 

 Meteorological Society. He was ever active, but never too 

 busy to be inattentive to the most casual visitors to the 

 Institution, or to give information, regarding the museum and 

 matters in which the Society has an interest, to all to whom 

 such information was likely to be of service. 



