258 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [October, 



There is another collection of insects in the government build- 

 ing, forming part of the Smithsonian exhibit ; but as this is 

 strictly technical in character, and was prepared by the writer, it 

 needs only a mere mention here, and the criticism must be sup- 

 plied by some more disinterested party. In this collection all the 

 families of American insects are defined on printed labels, and 

 are illustrated by specimens and drawings. 



In the Agricultural Building there are a number of collections 

 of insects. The largest and most important of these forms part 

 of the collective exhibit of the Agricultural Colleges and Experi- 

 ment Stations. I regret very much that few good words can be 

 said for this collection. It is made up of contributions from the 

 entomologists of quite a number of the Stations, and it is to be 

 noted that some of them have entirely failed to comprehend the 

 scope of the exhibit, while others have prepared boxes which 

 would be considered very inferior, even in an amateur collection. 

 There are some good cases, of course ; but as the writer is also 

 one of the contributors to this alcove, it would be better to allow 

 some one else to point out the poor boxes. Besides the character 

 of the collection, the installation leaves much to be desired, and 

 the location is such that the boxes are subject at times to very 

 considerable jars. The result is seen by the broken specimens 

 piled up in the bottom of the boxes. A great many of these will 

 have little or no value when they are returned to their owners. 

 Yet, it will pay to examine the collection carefully, since it illus- 

 trates the methods of a number of entomologists from all parts 

 of our country, and there is an abundance of opportunity to 

 compare the difference between good and bad work. 



Besides this entomological alcove, there is in connection with the 

 same exhibit, an entomological laboratory, in which it was intended 

 to show the complete working outfit of a well- equipped Station. 

 It was originally intended that in this laboratory certain experi- 

 ments should be carried on and a considerable number of insects 

 bred during the season, illustrating practically, some of the work 

 of the entomologists. Lack of funds, among other things, 

 has prevented the carrying out the original plan, and the exhibit 

 is at present by no means what it was intended to be, when it was 

 originally planned by the writer ; yet there will be found in this 

 exhibit a great deal that will interest entomologists, since it con- 

 tains devices of all kinds contributed by a large number of work- 



