216 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



ever be prepared ? The work is evidently too great for any one individual, 

 for keys in any group to be serviceable must be prepared by someone 

 familiar with the group ; and, furthermore, the entomological workers of 

 America are all too much engaged in active professional studies to devote 

 much time to such work. 



That some combined plan is requisite seems apparent, and I know no 

 better place to inaugurate such an effort than in this Club. 



There are already many valuable analytical tables, but these are 

 scattered through so many publications (many of v/hich are inaccessible 

 to general students) that to be of service in the particular manner I have 

 in mind, they should be brought together in some compact single volume, 

 with such directions as to their use, as to make them serviceable without 

 a specialist at hand. 



I would suggest that a special committee be appointed at this meeting 

 to consider the possibility of preparing such a work, either as a 

 special effort of the club or by simple co-operation among members of 

 the clubj who are willing to assist by allowing the use of tables already 

 prepared, or the preparation of new ones in the group with which they are 

 familiar. 



Such a manual would necessarily have certain limitations, and, doubt- 

 less, at first, some imperfections, but the scope of the work may probably 

 better be discussed in a special committee, should it please you to form 

 one, and the matter of imperfection is incident to every new undertaking. 



The cordial reception which this suggestion has met with from some 

 entomologists to whom I have presented it, and their generous offer to 

 allow the use of tables they have published, and to revise and extend 

 them, have encouraged me in the belief that such a plan can be worked 

 out. The matter seems to me of such vital importance, especially in 

 college work and for students who desire to make entomology a serious 

 work, that I believe we should not be discouraged by the difficulties 

 which certainly exist in such an undertaking. 



Another matter to which I desire to call your attention is that of a 

 general gathering of entomologists during the Columbian Exposition. We 

 are all aware of the pleasure of meeting our national co-labourers in this 

 field, and if arrangements are made so that a general congress of the ento- 

 mologists of the world can be had, I believe the interest and profit of the 

 occasion will be great. 



