1868.] 



151 



As a comprehensive handbook, his " Versuch einer Einfuhrnng in das Stndium 

 der Koleopteren" deserves also special mention ; and a list of his smaller papers 

 will be found in Hagen's " Bibliotheca Entomologica." 



Of late years, though always fully and diligently collecting all orders, Dr. 

 Imhoff had devoted most of his time to the Hymenoptera, especially to the Aindoe, 

 as shown, for instance, by recent papers on Swiss Andrenid(B, etc., in the *' Mit- 

 theilungen der Sohweiz. Entom. Gesellschaft." 



But to my own mind, leaving literary attainments and professional activity — 

 on both of which I am quite incompetent to speak — out of the question, the chief 

 merit of Dr. Imhoff's scientific career seems to centre in the unwearied zeal he 

 year after year brought to bear upon the discharge of his entomological lectureship 

 in the Basle University. 



The study of insects is not attractive to the many ; the smallness of tlie objects 

 deters all superficial curiosity ; there is to the outsider but little inducement to 

 enter an arena where drudgery is the fii-st prize : it is therefore not to be expected 

 that every one, even of the few earnest students who annually clustered round his 

 chair, should become an entomologist, though several such instances did happen. 

 Nevertheless, many have gathered a general acquaintance with the science there, 

 and the fact remains, that the departed teacher voluntarily kept the flame of 

 entomological lore burning steadily for a considerable period, and through good 

 and evil report, besides attending uninterruptedly to the collections of insects in 

 the Basle Museum. 



If but few would answer as disciples to his call within the pale of the University, 

 his influence in other scientific circles was all the greater ; and there are few Swiss 

 entomologists and collectors, alive or dead, of the present and past generation, who 

 have not, at some time or other, derived both instruction and benefit from their 

 intercourse with him. A certain undefined reserve, perhaps pure modesty, has 

 often prevented Dr. Imhofi" from communicating, himself, the results of his life- 

 long labours and ripe experience to the entomological world ; but the initiated can 

 plainly see where others have reaped the fruits of his toil. 



Fully interested in the progress of natural science, as Dr. Imhoff was, he, as 

 a matter of course, did study the tide of modem thought ; and it speaks well for 

 the independence of his mature judgment, and for the freshness of his mind to the 

 last, that although trained in the received belief of the immutability of species, he 

 did not shut his ears to modern views, as held by Darwin and others ; and, cautious 

 to the extreme as he was, he did go more than once so far as to observe to the 

 writer, that although quite unprepared to fall in with Darwin's notions, he yet did 

 not see why so much animosity should be imported into this discussion, considering 

 that so many facts in nature seemed to militate in favour of the Englishman's 

 views. 



Finally, a word as to Dr. Imhoff's behaviour to beginners, as experienced years 

 ago by the wi-iter himself. Constant cheering-up, though in few words ; an appre- 

 ciation of every step forward j no proud looking down upon the opinion of others ; 

 but a steady, gentle way of instruction by word and deed : such were the leading 

 features of my late friend's teaching ; and, only in June last, on an excursion to 

 the Ursern Valley, this long established intercourse was again cemented by an 

 eight days' daily exchange of ideas. 



