March, 1929 
15 
The Queensland Naturalist 
timony or personal observation that they at all co- 
operated, yet when in 1891 the former published his 
elaborate ‘ 4 Synonymical Catalogue of the Rhapolocera 
of Australia,” as also this author’s similar Synonymic 
List of Sphingidae (Hawkmoths), this proved an addi- 
tional incentive to the younger worker to still prosecute 
entomology afield.* 
Dr. A. J. Turner’s arrival here in 1889, and close 
attention to systematic collection and description of Lepi- 
doptera — especially served to* realize the importance 
of R. lllidge’s work also. Meanwhile, Dr. T. P. Lucas, 
too, took up his abode in Brisbane, and whilst here vied 
with Illidge in enthusiastic interest in Lepidoptera, and 
really did co-operate to the benefit of both ; whilst eventu- 
ally the Illidge collection passed into the former’s hands. 
R. Illidge was naturally a retiring and very unas- 
suming investigator, a personal qualification born of his 
close study of birds and insects in the field work that de- 
mands close individual attention, and is also ministered 
to by solitariness. 
When Dr. T. P. Lucas is describing one of R. 
Tllidge’s discoveries — the moth Culama expressa — he re- 
fers to him as “our most careful observer.” When G. 
A. Waterhouse states R. Illidge (and three others he 
names) “have placed their collections at my disposal, 
and given me examples of many rare species” (Notes on 
Australian Rhopalocera, Lycaenidae, III, 1903), he ex- 
pressed what is implied in the single reference to Illidge 
in his great work, in association with G. Lyell, on the But- 
terflies of Australia. 1914, that we find on perusing its 
preface. 
Illidge was a member of the Royal Society of Queens- 
land. In 1898 he was appointed its Honorary Librarian, 
a post he held for several years. This was some years 
subsequent to the existence of the Field Naturalists Sec- 
tion thereof. His contributions to its transactions related 
exclusively to insects, and are elsewhere alluded to. 
On the Natural History Society of Queensland being 
formed in January, 1892, Mr. Illidge joined the Council, 
whilst for the two succeeding periods (1893 and 1894), 
he was its Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, and was in 1895 
elected to the post of President, During its nu merous 
* It was through R. Illidge’s efforts in obtaining the beau- 
tiful Lycaenid butterfly that Miskin hadi wrongly identified 
with Felder’s species H. narcissus, that Waterhouse was en- 
abled not only to correct the error, but aho to create for our 
rare Brisbane insect the species Miletus Miskini. 
