THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



51 



first meeting of the " Glasgow Practical Naturalists' Society " was held in 

 Kelvingrove Museum, under very encouraging circumstances. The society 

 quickly sprung into energetic life, and prospered beyond all the expectations 

 of its originators. Sometime later the name of the society was changed to 

 the " Clydesdale Naturalists' Society." Mr. McGrouther's entomological 

 pursuits have been so closely connected with the society that it is hardly pos- 

 sible to mention the one without implying the other. He was elected its 

 first secretary, and undoubtedly, much of the success which attended its sub- 

 sequent history was due to his personal energy and kindly disposition. 

 Entomology was at first the chief subject of study among its members, but in 

 a short time it embraced representatives of all the principal branches of 

 science, including several eminent authorities on various subjects. Mr. 

 McGrouther's health during the last two years was never very good, and 

 latterly his love for the haunts of the local insect rarities had to be subordi- 

 nated to a careful respect for his health. The delightful afternoons in sum- 

 mer which we spent at Cadder Wilderness, and other shady retreats, became 

 of late less frequent, and latterly his entomological excursions into the 

 country were at rare intervals. Last July he accompanied me on a week's 

 holiday in Argyllshire, where he manifested his old love for the moors and 

 woods, where insect life abound. Our holiday was an exceedingly pleasant 

 one, and seemed to do him some good. Shortly after his return his mother 

 died, and this loss so grieved him that it cannot be said that he ever recovered 

 from it. A short time since it was proposed that the members of the Clydes- 

 dale Naturalists' Society should hold their first annual supper, and as one 

 connected so intimately with its origin, Mr. McGrouther was to officiate as 

 Croupier. A few days before the event came off, I received word that owing 

 to an attack of liver complaint, he would be unable to attend. Nothing 

 serious was thought of his illness, and he was believed to be quickly recover- 

 ing his health. On Friday, however, a singular change took place ; he was 

 harrassed by a troublesome cough, and inflamation seemed to have taken hold 

 of his lungs, and he became unconscious. About eleven o'clock at night, on 

 the 8th February, he breathed his last . All that was mortal of him was laid 

 in the grave, beside that of his excellent mother, in the Western Necropolis, 

 Glasgow. Now that he is gone from earth, he will be missed by many, for 

 his kindly disposition made him many friends. To those who knew him in- 

 timately, he will be ever a pleasing memory, and one not likely to be ever 

 effaced. Indeed, his absence at our meetings and at our country rambles, 

 will be a painful experience to his entomologist friends. He was a frequent 

 correspondent with many of the readers of the " Young Naturalist " and the 

 news of his sudden death will be a grief to many. Thus quickly are our 



