( Ixviii ) 
Amazon), but I had collected and made out species very 
largely and had seen to some extent how curiously useful and 
protective their forms and colours often were, and all this 
was of great use to me." 
I had hoped to be able to discuss some of the current 
problems which are before biologists, and towards the solution 
of which entomology might contribute largely. Such, for 
example, are Galton's and Weismann's views on the non- 
transmissibility of acquired characters, the role of what Mr. 
Bateson calls "discontinuous variation" in the origin of 
species, the recent efforts to throw light on the all-important 
subject of variability by the statistical methods introduced by 
Galton and now being worked at from the experimental side 
by Weldon, and from the mathematical side by Karl Pearson. 
I feel, however, that I have trespassed already too long upon 
your forbearance, and while again thanking you for the 
honourable position in which you have placed me, I can 
only express the hope that my special plea for a more liberal 
use of the speculative method among our working entomolo- 
gists will not be regarded by those who hold different views 
as a breach of the privilege of that ofHce to which by your 
courtesy I have been elected. Should there be any who 
entertain this opinion, I beg them to make a liberal discount 
for personality, and they will find that the ultimate motive 
has been to promote the best interests of our science. 
OBITUAEY. 
Pbof. Chakles Valentine Eiley, M.A., Ph.D., Hon." F.E.S., 
whose loss has already been referred to from the chair, died 
at Washington on the 14th September last from the effects 
of a fall from his bicycle. 
Prof. Eiley was born at Chelsea on September 18th, 
1843 ; his early years were spent at Walton-on-Thames, 
where he made the acquaintance of the late W. C. Hewitson, 
and it is possible this may have developed his taste for 
entomology. He went to school in France and in Germany, 
