Mar., 1915.] Entomological Work in Ohio. 459 



there has been felt a constant want in every town, village, hamlet, 

 and farmhouse of a better knowledge of the surrounding objects 

 of nature. In every district school questions are constantly 

 arising, inspired by the natural curiosity of the child, which the 

 teacher has not been able to answer, from the want of means of 

 information in regard to the animals and plants of the State. 

 An interest in nature is almost universal, and its development 

 wholesome and happifying. Hence, the destribution of documents 

 that will enable every one to learn the character and history of 

 the objects that surround him, will prove not only a gratification 

 but a benefit to a great multitude. All this for the educational 

 influence of such reports. Their bearing upon the practical life 

 of our people is not less real, since a knowledge of the habits of 

 the animals that contribute to the support of man, the birds of 

 the air, the beasts of the field, the fishes of the water, will be of 

 great service as a guide in all efforts to increase the productiveness 

 of these sources of aliment." 



This volume of the Geological Survey included only reports 

 upon the vertebrate animals but calls attention to the intention 

 that reports upon the lower animals would be forth-coming 

 in later volumes. This expectation was not realized and altho 

 the desirability of a Biological Survey was recognized and urged 

 at various times no systematic work in this connection was under- 

 taken. The many contributions in this line came thru the work 

 of the Experiment Station and from individuals, members of the 

 Ohio Academy of Science or entirely independent workers. Re- 

 cently, however, and as result of efforts of the State Academy of 

 Science, a Biological Survey has been inaugurated in the Univer- 

 sity with the co-operation of a number of Ohio Institutions, and it is 

 hoped that means will be available to push forward the studies on 

 the state fauna and flora. Naturally some part of these must be 

 entomological and, since the reports of the Geological Survey 

 and a number of earlier papers have dealt especially with verte- 

 brates, it will be but natural that the groups of insects will be 

 treated as opportunity ofTers. From the great number of species 

 and the prominence of the group it must result that considerable 

 time and co-operation of a large number of workers will be neces- 

 sary to make such a study in any degree complete. A Bulletin 

 on the Syrphidag of Ohio has already been issued and work upon 

 Orthoptera, Spiders, Odonata, Coccid^, Hemiptera and some 

 other groups is in contemplation or under way. 



CO-OPERATIVE EFFORTS. 



The recent steps toward unifying Entomological work are so 

 freshly in mind that a brief statement only seems necessar}^ to 

 indicate the present status. With the organization of the Agricul- 

 tural Commission there seemed to be an opportunity for a co- 



