OF WASHINGTON. 43 



NEED OF REVISION. 



Daily in our work we come across genera which we well 

 know are not good genera. Why then accept them ? An author 

 will tabulate the species of two or more genera in one synoptic 

 key ; it being evident that the characters which distinguish the 

 genera are of less value, or are less constant, than the charac 

 ters that separate the species. Such genera are worthless. 

 They mean nothing. They are of no value to science. 



There is need, sore need, of generic revision in nearly all 

 groups of insects. If we look to the genotype as the only 

 source of generic characters, the work will have to be done 

 over again, and still again, and again. For each new student 

 will look closer and more sharply than the last. Let us fasten 

 the genus at a definite place in the scheme of classification by 

 giving to it constant and peculiar characters, and the name 

 will hold and mean something. The systematic entomologist 

 can do no better work than in placing genera on the sure 

 foundation of definite characters. 



Finally, let us remember : That classification is unnatural ; 

 that a genus based on a type-species can be interpreted to suit 

 each student ; that if we desire the genus to have and to carry 

 the same meaning at all times it must be based on definite 

 structures ; and that dividing genera brings us no nearer to a 

 natural arrangement, while it is often a hindrance to our 

 science. 



Doctor Hopkins complimented Mr. Banks on his address 

 and said that his experience led him to agree with the latter 

 that the splitting up of genera without a detailed study to de 

 termine the real generic characters as distinguished from 

 specific characters is not contributing to advancement but 

 rather to the opposite. He thought that it was far better to 

 classify the large genera into primary and secondary divisions 

 and sections under one name, according to interpreted natural 

 affinities, rather than to introduce new names for genera and 

 sub-genera established on characters of indefinite separation 

 from established genera. 



Doctor Gill stated that there is no hard and fast line which 



