WOUTERA SOPHIE SUZANNA VAN BENTHEM JUTTING was born 6th February 1899 and studied biology at the University of Amsterdam. I n 1924 State examinations in zoology, botany, and geology gave her the qualification for teaching in secondary schools. Already in 1919 she had joined the scientific staff of the Zoological Museum of the University under the direction of the well-known zoologist MAX WEBER. He urged her to give most attention to the taxonomy and ecology of the Mollusca of the Netherlands and of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. The marine shells of the latter region had already been intensively studied by RUMPHIUS (Amboinsche Rariteitkamer, 1705) and by many later zoologists. Only few malacologists, however, had given attention to the land-and freshwater molluscs of' the many islands, the Malay Peninsula, and New Guinea. Her interest was raised by the marvellous collection of the late M. M. SCHEPMAN, in 1919, and by the collections made during the expedition of H. M. S. SIBOGA. This interest was strongly stimulated during a stay in Java, 1930-'32, where she was curator at the Zoological Museum at Buitenzorg and collected often in the field.
Having returned to Amsterdam in 1932 she was again curator of the department of Mollusca in the University Zoological Museum, until her retirement in December 1964. She was always helpful to students and serious amateurs. She enjoyed correspondence with colleagues abroad and discussions with them. Even during the years of war and occupation 1940-'45, she succeeded in saving the collections, in continuing her scientific studies, and in maintaining the connections with several of her correspondents abroad.
I n 1945 she married P. J. VAN DER FEEN, and to avoid bibliographical confusion she continued to publish under her maiden name.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging she arranged, together with her Leiden colleague Dr. C. 0. VAN REGTEREN ALTENA and the board of the society an international meeting of malacologists in Amsterdam. This symposium succeeded so well that it was, in fact, continued as the European Malacological Congress (London 1962, Copenhagen 1965,