Well known Lepidopterist and authority on entomological nomenclature who was Lord Walsingham’s private secretary and had charge of his collections. When Walsingham left his collection to the NHM he provided funds for Durrant to continue to look after it. Durrant published two notes on species of ‘Blaps from Hitchin’ (Trans.ESL., 1884, Proc. p.xx; and EMM., 21, 1884, p.112) and made several donations of Coleoptera to the NHM between 1885 and 1933: a Blaps from Hitchin (85.33); 73 specimens collected in Madagascar by Kingdon (1911.151); Odontaeus mobilicornis from Merton, Norfolk (1911.107). Others 1928-33. A further 1,205 Coleoptera and other insects chiefly collected in Hertfordshire and Norfolk were given to the Museum by his wife in 1928 (1928.99). There is material related to Durrant in David Sharp’s scrapbook and autograph album in the RESL (Pedersen (2002) p.49). Gilbert (1977) lists eight obituaries of which the most important is probably that by N.D.Riley in Ent., 61, 1928, pp.73-75 which includes a portrait. (MD 9/02)
Dates
10 January 1863 - 18 January 1928