Ref NoMS/200
TitleWatercolour drawings of moths and caterpillars - unknown artist
AdminHistoryGeorge Lewis (1839–1926) was an English entomologist, with a particular interest in Coleoptera.

Lewis was born on 5 August 1839, the second son of Rev. R.G. Lewis, first Vicar of St. John's, Blackheath. He was educated at the Blackheath Proprietary School. In 1826 he went to China and worked in the tea business and stayed for 10 years. He had been interested in entomology since a child and spent several years travelling and collecting beetles in Japan as well as Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Algiers (Algeria). He was a recognized authority on the beetles of the family Histeridae and he bequeathed a large collection of over 12,000 specimens to the British Museum. He published 'A systematic catalogue of Histeridae', London :Taylor and Francis (1905); an itinerary of his journey in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1882; and 'On the Buprestidae of Japan', Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology, 24: 327–338.(1895) and other works. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society. He married Miss Julia Hunter, of Inner Park Road, Wimbledon Common in 1867 and died at Folkestone on 5 September 1926.
DescriptionAlbum containing 24 water-colour drawings of moths and their caterpillars, most including labels and the names of people who first described them, as well as 4 plants, some of which are mounted in the album.
Includes a letter of transmittal from A.R.Upton (Lewis's nephew) dated 19th Oct. 1926, and a note by [Miss] J.G.Upton: 'I believe Mr Lewis said that the coloured drawings of moths and caterpillars were done by a Japanese artist'.

Includes the following types of moths and caterpillars:

- Triptogon roseipennis (Butler)
- Smerinthus planus (Walker)
- Smerinthus tatarinovii (Bremer)
- Acherontia Medusa (Butler)
- Chaerocampa Nessus (Drury)
- Protoparce orientalis (Butler)
- Diludia vates (Butler)
- Chaerocampa Nessus (Drury)
- Chaerocampa silhetensis (Walker)
- Chaerocampa oldenlandiae
- Ch. [Chaerocampa] japonica (Boisduval)
- Ampelophaga rubiginosa (Ménetries)
- Acherontia mortar (Hübner)
- Chaerocampa clotho (Drury)
- Pergesa mongoliana (Butler)
- Chaerocampa Lewisii (Butler)
- Macroglossa bombylans (Boisd. [Boisduval])
- Macroglossa pyrrhosticta (Butler)
- Lophura hyas (Walker)

Plants depicted include:

- Sesamum orientale
- Actinidia polygama
- Dioscorea
- Paederia foetida
Date[1875 - 1900]
LevelFile
Extent1 album
LanguageEnglish
AcquisitionInside front cover: 'Linnean Society of London. Bequeathed to the Library by George Lewis, a fellow of the Society from the 18th January 1883, until his death on the 5th September, 1926'.
Creator NameUnknown
Access_StatusOpen
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