Robert Cyril Layton Perkins facts for kids

Robert Cyril Layton Perkins (born November 15, 1866 – died September 29, 1955) was a famous British scientist. He studied insects (an entomologist), birds (an ornithologist), and nature in general (a naturalist).

Perkins was especially known for his work on the animals of the Hawaiian islands. He also studied a group of insects called Hymenoptera, which includes bees, wasps, and ants. His son, John Frederick Perkins, also studied Hymenoptera.

Early Life and Education

Robert Perkins was born in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England. His father was a headmaster, and Robert went to King Edward VI Grammar School and Merchant Taylors' School.

In 1885, he earned a scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford. He first studied classics, which are old Greek and Roman languages and history.

Switching to Science

After two years, Perkins became very interested in science. He was inspired by lectures about insect colors. Even though he had not studied science in school, he switched to Natural History.

He started publishing articles about nature while still studying classics. In 1889, he finished his degree in Natural Sciences, focusing on animal shapes and structures.

Exploring Hawaii's Wildlife

In 1891, a group of important scientific organizations asked Perkins for help. They wanted him to study the land animals of the Hawaiian islands. This was a huge project that lasted almost ten years.

Perkins spent a lot of time doing research on the islands. He also worked at the University of Cambridge when he returned home.

Fauna Hawaiiensis

His amazing research was published in a book series called Fauna Hawaiiensis. The first parts came out in 1899. He finished his work in 1913 with a big introduction to the whole series.

For his important contributions to zoology (the study of animals), he received a special gold medal.

Later Career and Retirement

From 1902 to 1904, Perkins worked for the Agricultural Department in Hawaii. In 1904, he became the first director of a new insect department. This department was part of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association.

His job was to find ways to control pests and weeds that harmed sugar cane plants. He did this by finding their natural enemies, like parasites. To find these helpful insects, he traveled to Australia and other places.

Health and Continued Work

In 1912, Perkins had to retire because of poor health. He moved back to England, to a town called Newton Abbot in Devon.

Even after retiring, he kept working on Hawaiian insects for another 20 years. He also studied British insects, especially bees and sawflies.

In 1920, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists. He was also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. Robert Perkins passed away in 1955 at the age of 88.