128 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
OBITUARY. 
Mr. W. J. Rainpow. 
It is with the deepest regret that we record the death of our 
esteemed friend and colleague, Mr. W. J. Rainbow. No 
member of the Society was better known to members than Mr. 
Rainbow, and his genial presence will be missed alike at Council 
and Ordinary Meetings. 
For many years past Mr. Rainbow has been a prominent 
figure in scientific circles in Sydney, and more especially to 
those visiting the Australian Museum, where his ready help was 
ever gladly accorded to all. It was perhaps in connection with 
his specialty, the Araneidae, that our friend was most closely 
associated, he having for a long period devoted himself to the 
study of this group, on which he was the recognised Australian 
authority. Mr. Rainbow published numerous papers, and two 
works of a popular nature:—“A Guide to the Study of Butter- 
flies” and “Mosquitos: Their Habits and Distribution.” 
Mr. Rainbow was first editor of the Australian Naturahst, 
which he conducted with marked success until pressure of work 
compelled his giving it up. 
It is only quite recently that he completed an important piece 
of work, the description of the Araneidae collected at Macquarie 
Island by the Mawson Expedition. Another recent paper in 
conjunction with Dr. Pulleine, recently noticed in these columns, 
was a study of Australian Trap-door spiders. 
Mr. Rainbow’s second son, Oscar, was killed at Gallipoli in 
the performance of a very gallant action, and his younger son, 
Eric, only returned from active service abroad a few days after 
his father’s death. Mr. Rainbow was predeceased by his wife 
in 1917, she never having recovered from the shock of her 
gallant son’s death. IP, IS, 
EXCURSION. 
The excursion to Homebush Bay (8th November) following 
upon the lecture by Mr. A. A. Hamilton on the Heology of 
the Salt-marshes, was well attended, and a number of the plants 
depicted, whose environmental characteristics had been explained 
by the lecturer, were seen in situ. PAW aeAtse Lt 
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