THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



235 



where observed and taken when good. Several common Tortrix abounded, 

 and Peronea variegana var. asperana was fine but rare, whilst a black form 

 of it was plentiful, but the ordinary forms, generally so abundant, were not 

 seen at all ; and Sciap/iila hylridana var. curvi fasciana was plentiful, sheltered 

 by its food-plant (an old thorn bush), from which it was driven out by fusee 

 smoke. We had no time for Tinea, but I could not resist a try for my old 

 friend Gelechia pernigrella (temer&Ma), and a puff of smoke made him show 

 that he still lives in his old locality. Its now train time, and we reluctantly 

 leave this glorious collecting ground, and are soon rushing along in one train 

 to get on to another for Barnsley. — C. S. Gregson. 



OBITUARY. 



The " Bradford Naturalists' Society" has recently lost, by death, one of 

 its most useful members — Mr. John Eirth — a working man naturalist, who 

 died on the 29th August, 1885, at the age of 53. He was one of the pro- 

 moters of the " Bradford Naturalists' Society," which originated in August, 

 1875, and was its first Yice-President. He was elected President for 1878, 

 and has indeed held some office every year since the origin of the Society. 

 ! ln 1880, the Society defined a somewhat extensive area for investigation, and 

 appointed Recorders for the various sections, Mr. Firth being the first elected 

 Eecorder of the Vertebrate Zoological section, an office which he held to the 

 time of his death. He took a great interest in most departments of Natural- 

 History, but Ornithology and Entomology (Lepidoptera) were his chief pur- 

 suits, both of which he followed with considerable success. In 1875, the 

 time when the " Bradford Naturalists' Society " came into existence, most of 

 the district round here was purely " virgin ground," so far as the Lepidoptera 

 was concerned, a circumstance which afforded Mr. Firth and his friends 

 ample opportunities for doing some good original work ; and amongst his 

 most interesting captures may be mentioned Larentia salicata, L, olivata, 

 Geometra papilionaria, Emmelesia affinitata, Acronycta menyanthidis and 

 Notodonta dictcea, these and a large number of other species were added to 

 our local lists by him. He always took great interest in handing in his 

 records, was strictly accurate in all his work, and evinced great pride in help- 

 ing beginners, both with information and specimens. Mr. Eirth was also 

 one of the promoters of the " Clayton West Naturalists' Society," and for 

 some time a member of the M Heckmodwike Society " ; and during the early 

 existence of the " Yorkshire Naturalists' Union," then the " West Riding 

 Consolidated Society," he took an active and practical part in its work. He 



