212 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



I feel, therefore, that while there are many important topics that could 

 be selected as the basis of this address, I cannot possibly go astray in 

 occupying your attention for a short time with some thoughts concerning 

 the educational value of entomology, the training to be desired in it, and 

 the present and possible means for the growth of this work. 



It is but a short time since entomology was entirely excluded from 

 college courses, or, if included at all, formed but a fractional part of 

 zoology; and the training given had little reference to the actual work 

 devolving upon an entomological student in the collefction and study of 

 his particular favourites. 



Even at the present time, there are, so far as I know, not more than a 

 dozen colleges in the country where entomology is given a place in the 

 regular college curriculum, and in only about half of these does it form a 

 required part of any regular college course. In some of these the required 

 work consists of but a short course, devoted largely to economic subjects, 

 and the student gets but a bare insight into the problems of systematic 

 entomology, or the wonderful biological wealth belonging to this branch 

 of science. 



To the members of this Club it is of course unnecessary to urge the 

 value of entomology as an educator, but I would like to call attention to 

 it here for the purpose of emphasizing the matter and urging a greater 

 utilization of it in educational work. While we ourselves may realize its 

 value and give it all the rank proper, I fear we do not always insist as we 

 might on the standing it deserves in this regard. 



We do not need to depreciate the value of other scientific studies in 

 order to uphold entomological work as one of the most suitable of all 

 branches of science to form a part of a course in scientific training. 



That it requires close application, careful attention to details, and thus 

 exercises in fullest degree every faculty of observation, is a necessary con- , 

 sequence of the minuteness and complex organization of insects. It 

 presents, therefore, every advantage offered by botany or any branch of 

 zoology as a means of training the faculties to close observation. 



It is stated of Cuvier, that being applied to by a young man who de- 

 sired to become a naturalist, for advice as to the course he should pursue, 

 he answered, " Go and study entomology." 4 



