74 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[April 



of osteodactyla which does hybernate in the larval state almost full-fed. 

 In the same Magazine (Vol. XXIV., p. 128), Dr. Jordan records 

 the capture of the species at Eidsvold amongst Solidago, whilst 

 Staudinger and Wocke give the following range : — " Central and 

 Northern Europe (except the Polar region), Central and Eastern 

 Russia " (" Catalog," p. 344). Stainton gives " Bristol, Manchester, 

 and Pembury," as localities, whilst the Rev. Mr. Horton records it 

 from North Devon and South Wales. It is very abundant in some 

 years in Raindean Wood, near Folkestone. Mr. Porritt records it 

 from " Witherslack, Abbots Wood, and Hailsham " (in Hit.). Mr. 

 A. W. P. Cambridge writes : — " Common among Solidago virgaurea in 

 woods, but much scarcer of late years ; none have been taken since 

 1887 " (in litt.). 



Time of Appearance, &c. — The species occurs in June, and occurs 

 abundantly in some years in many of our southern woods, and also in 

 some of its more northern localities. Stainton gives " Jul}- " as its 

 time of appearance ; whilst Mr. Porritt gives "May and June" (in litt.). 



NATURALISTS OF THE DAY. 



XV.— Rev. W. F. JOHNSON, 



M.A., F.E.S. 



Irishmen, as a rule, appear to have an inborn love for Natural 

 History, and of recent years great progress has been made in the 

 study. Besides the establishment of numerous local societies, we now 

 have a magazine exclusively devoted to the furtherance of the various 

 branches of Natural Science. In former times both Dean Swift and 

 Oliver Goldsmith, and especially the latter, by their frequent refer- 

 ences, showed themselves to be keen observers of Nature. Goldsmith 

 was the author of a book entitled, " Animated Nature " — a work of no 

 scientific value, it is true, yet ample evidence of his leaning to Natural 

 History. 



Of scientists proper, Haliday may perhaps be quoted as of the 

 front rank ; but, coming to our own times, the Rev. W. F. Johnson, 

 of Armagh, has done far more for the study in the sister isle than any 

 one of the present day. To this gentleman's courtesy we are indebted 

 for the portrait now presented to our readers. 



The Rev. W. F. Johnson was born at Travancore, South India, 

 in 1852 ; his father being in the service of the Church Missionary 

 Society at that time. He was educated privately, and matriculated 

 in Trinity College in 1872. In August of the same year he became 

 Assistant Master of Armagh Royal School, retaining this appointment 

 until January, 1881. 



