Well known as the describer of many thousands of new species of insects other than Coleoptera in the collection of the Natural  History Museum, London. He was not a Coleopterist but did publish several papers on beetles: Characters of two undescribed British Coleoptera, Ent.

Primarily known for his work on Diptera and, later, sub-fossil insects, but in his role as Keeper of Natural Sciences at Doncater Museum he inevitably came into contact with Coleoptera. His AIDCAP book Insects of the Cow-Dung Community, 1991, contains very useful keys and illustrations to many Coleoptera.