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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 40(1), 1986, 77-78
Lionel George Higgins (1891-1985)
With the recent death of Lionel Higgins, at the age of 94, one of our few remaining links with pre-War entomology has been severed. Perhaps reflecting those more leisurely times, in common with many of his generation he was a "generalist" of distinction, equally at home in art and music as in his chosen profession of medicine, or indeed entomology. Following rheumatic fever in childhood, Lionel was pronounced too delicate for a formal school education. As a result, the interests that so enlivened his lifetime were probably kindled. Taking a medical degree at Clare College, Cambridge, he qualified at St. Thomas' Hospital before serving in the 1914-18 War as a surgeon-lieutenant. Specializing in gynaecology and obstetrics, he practiced from 1922 onwards in Woking, Surrey, where he continued to live after his retirement.
In the field of Lepidoptera, he is, of course, best known for his collaborative book with the late N. D. Riley, "A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe" (1970), a standard work translated into at least nine languages, with world-wide sales approaching 200,000; and its companion volume "The Classification of European Butterflies" (1975). These works were the culmination of fifty years of serious study. While this is not the place to include a full bibliography, C. R. Smith (Type specimens of the taxa described by L. G. Higgins in the British Museum (Natural History), in preparation) lists more than 70 titles, which truly reflects his contribution since 1924, when the first work appeared. Probably he would have regarded the Melitaeinae as "his" group. Major contributions in 1941, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1978 and 1981 provided a firm foundation for future work. Tangible recognition of his contributions to natural history include the Stamford Raffles Award (Zoological Society of London) and the H. H. Bloomer Award (Linnean Society).
As well as being a prolific author, he was an indefatigable collector, both of butterflies and books. Accompanied by his wife, Nesta, he collected extensively in the holarctic
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
region. As recently as 1978, shortly before his wife's sad and unexpected death, they were to be found wielding their nets in the mountains of Kashmir! The British Museum (Natural History) is the direct beneficiary—his incomparable collection in excess of 30,000 specimens was generously bequeathed to this Institution. As for his library, much passed to the Hope Entomological Collection, Oxford; but over the years, many volumes were presented to the BM(NH), including several rare works by Jacob Hiibner.
Despite Lionel Higgins' eminence, it must be acknowledged that some of his ideas attracted criticism. Aware of this, he maintained a dignified, but never dogmatic, confidence in his convictions. In methodology, he was a man of his times (few of us could claim to be anything else!). While the numerical and cladistic revolutions passed him by, he remained true to his basic principles—overall similarity and the equivalence of species-groups and genera. It is impossible to predict how the future will judge his work, but personal experience suggests that the results of "traditional" methods should be treated with the utmost respect.
How can the loss of such a man be measured? A glance at his correspondence file gives some indication. There can hardly be a lepidopterist of note who has not communicated with him over some problem. All were given the benefit of his lifetime's experience. The personal touches perhaps give most indication of the esteem and affection in which he was held: photographs sent by correspondents, showing themselves and sometimes their families, at ease in their homes. For me, the abiding memory will be of a battered briefcase, a cork postal-box containing the latest treasure from the Pamirs or Urals, and above all the half serious admonition, always delivered with a twinkle in the eye, that I really should learn something about palaearctic butterflies.
Literature Cited
Higgins, L. G. 1941. An illustrated catalogue of the Palearctic Melitaea (Lep. Rhopa-locera). Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London 91:175-365.
---------- 1950. A descriptive catalogue of the Palaearctic Euphydryas (Lepidoptera:
Rhopalocera). Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London 101:435-489.
---------- 1955. A descriptive catalogue of the genus Mellicta Billberg (Lepidoptera:
Nymphalidae) and its species, with supplementary notes on the genera Melitaea and Euphydryas. Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London 106:1-131.
---------- 1960. A revision of the melitaeine genus Chlosyne and allied species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalinae). Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London 112:381-467.
---------- 1975. The classification of European butterflies. Collins, London.
---------- 1978. A revision of the genus Euphydryas Scudder (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Entomol. Gaz. 29:109-115.
---------- 1981. A revision of Phyciodes Hiibner and related genera, with a review of
the classification of the Melitaeinae. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) (Entomol.) 43:77-243.
Higgins, L. G. & N. D. Riley. 1970. A field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Europe. Collins, London.
Phillip R. Ackery, Butterfly Section, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England.
Date of Issue (Vol. 40, No. 1): 9 October 1986