174
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
ported the congress-meeting of the South Eastern Union of Scientific
Societies at Hastings in May, 1927.
Miss E. L. Turner then gave a lecture entitled "ird-Watching on
Scolt Head," which she illustrated by a large series of excellent lantern-
photographs. An interesting discussion followed, in which various or-
nithological members took part, and Miss Turner replied to questions
raised. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was passed by acclamation.
VISIT TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY)
(635TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 2IST JANUARY, I928.
Thirty-seven members availed themselves of a kind invitation from
the Keeper of the Department of Entomology, Major E. E. Austen, D.S.O.,
to inspect under his personal guidance the collections in his charge, on
the above afternoon.
Assembled in the Great Central Hall at 2 o'clock, the party was wel-
comed by Major Austen, who led the way to the Entomological Gallery,
and there pointed out a new acquisition to the museum in the shape of
a replica of the bust of the celebrated Provencal naturalist, Jean Henri
Fabre (1823-1915), modelled from life in Fabre's study at Serignan in
1912, when the veteran entomologist was aged 89, by his friend Gaston
Deprez ; the bust depicted him in characteristic attitude, lens in hand,
examining an insect. A photograph of Fabre and members of his family
hangs near the bust.
Descending to the non-public portion of the Department, the visitors
individually signed the Visitor's Book and were then conducted through
the various rooms, our conductor exhibiting some of the larger and more
striking specimens in each Order of Insects, beginning with the Diptera
and ending with the Lepidoptera. Major Austen mentioned that the
department possessed in all some 1,200 cabinets, containing some 5,000,000
specimens. The oldest collection, that made by John Petiver circa 1700,
was exhibited, and it was interesting to note that, despite their great age,
many of the specimens retained at least a part of their original colouration.
The important Oberthur Collection of Foreign Lepidoptera, acquired
by purchase in 1926-7 and comprising some 750,000 specimens, in their
original cases, was also shown to the party ; Major Austen remarking
that thirteen ordinary-sized pantechnicons had been required to transport
the collection from Rennes. Some years must elapse before this huge
accession can be overhauled, catalogued, and made available for public
inspection.
An oil portrait of Henry Doubleday, the Epping naturalist,
naturally attracted the attention of the party.
During our tour of the Department, Major Austen gave many
lecturettes on the protective colouration of the insects exhibited and on
other relative topics.
At the conclusion of the inspection, our President offered the best
thanks of the party to our conductor for his kind services, and this was
warmly endorsed by the visitors. Major Austen replied, expressing his
appreciation of the vote of thanks, and the party took its leave at about.
4 o'clock.