312 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



It has been thought curious that a lady should take up 

 agricultural entomologj% and not only dabble in the science, but 

 practically make it her own, as Miss Ormerod has done, so far 

 as this country is concerned. The beginning was undoubtedly 

 example and precept. Dr. George Ormerod, as well as his 

 brothers and ancestors, had been acute observers and practical 

 workers in various fields of science ; the same may be said of his 

 wife and of her forbears. Observation of the habits of insects 

 with patient interest was one of Miss Ormerod's earliest recol- 

 lections. With her, interest was centred in life and habit, not in 

 the making of collections. 



As she grew to womanhood the duty fell to her of overseeing 

 the farm and park-lands constituting her father's estate at Sed- 

 bury, on the Wye. The recollection of the beauty of Sedbury 

 Park was a constant pleasure ; and perhaps there was in it 

 something of a family pride. She seems to have assumed 

 practical management in every branch, and to have entirely won 

 the confidence of those under her orders. She acquired a 

 working knowledge of agriculture, made more thorough and 

 accurate by the habit of intelligent, painstaking observation of 

 little things in early years. Thus was entomology united to 

 agriculture. Opportunity was abundant for observing insect 

 depredation and experimenting for remedy, and the habit was 

 formed of investigating life-history with a view to discovering 

 the vulnerable point of attack, and of seeking hidden causes for 

 visible effects. She became the counsellor of those under her 

 at home, and it was an easy and natural transition to counsel 

 practical farmers farther afield as help was sought. 



At her father's death, she and her sister removed to Isleworth, 

 where, in 1877, she determined to publish a few Notes of Ob- 

 servations on Injurious Insects; this was given to numerous 

 correspondents, and was followed next year by a Report of the 

 attacks of the year, with free quotation (carefully acknowledged) 

 from those who had enquired and experimented with remedies. 

 The Reports became Annual, grew in bulk and authority, and 

 soon determined what was to be Miss Ormerod's future life-work. 



It was no dilettante work, but involved concentrated applica- 

 tion and energy. On various occasions an amanuensis was 

 tried, but unsuccessfully ; the only help in correspondence and 



