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Harry Eltringham

Harry Eltringham.png
Born 18 May 1873
Died 26 November 1941
Scientific career
Fields

Harry Eltringham was a British scientist born on May 18, 1873, in South Shields, England. He passed away on November 26, 1941. He was an expert in two main areas: histology and entomology. Histology is the study of tiny tissues in living things, often using microscopes. Entomology is the study of insects. Harry Eltringham was especially interested in Lepidoptera, which are butterflies and moths.

Harry Eltringham's Life and Work

Harry Eltringham was a very educated man. He earned advanced degrees, including a Master of Science and a Doctor of Science, from famous universities like Oxford.

He worked at the Hope Department of Entomology, a special place where scientists study insects. During his career, he wrote several important books and papers about insects.

What Did He Study?

Eltringham wrote a book called Histological and Illustrative Methods for Entomologists. This book helped other scientists learn how to study insect tissues and draw them accurately. He also wrote about "The Senses of Insects," exploring how insects see, hear, and feel the world around them.

He worked with another scientist, Karl Jordan, to describe many types of butterflies, especially those in the Nymphalidae family. He also studied mimicry in butterflies. Mimicry is when one animal looks like another, often to protect itself from predators. For example, some harmless butterflies might look like poisonous ones.

A Famous Photograph

One of Eltringham's most interesting achievements was taking a unique photograph. He captured an image of another scientist, Edward Bagnall Poulton, by looking through the compound eye of a glowworm. This showed how insects see the world in a very different way than humans do.

His Achievements

Harry Eltringham was recognized for his important work. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, which is a group for insect scientists. He even served as its President from 1931 to 1932. In 1930, he became a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society, a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.

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