178 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



in relation to this subject, copies of which memorials are again before 

 you. These memorials were extensively circulated at the West, and were 

 signed by many of the most influential bodies for the promotion and 

 protection of agriculture in that region. During the winter these mem- 

 orials were sent to Congress, in the expectation that some proper legislation 

 would follow. One of the Senators, in fact, introduced a bill which seems 

 to have been very carefully considered, and indeed bears upon its face 

 some evidence of scientific guidance. This bill provided for the appoint- 

 ment of three Commissioners for five years, the Commissioners to be 

 nominated by the Council of the National Academy of Science to the 

 Secretary of Interior. This bill, having been referred to the Committee 

 on Agriculture, was returned, completely orchidized, in such form as to 

 'provide for one Commissioner, to be appointed by the Department of 

 Agriculture, the very enemy and incubus from which the western agricul- 

 turist specially desired to be relieved. 



The bill in this form passed the Senate, several of the members taking 

 occasion in the discussion which preceded the passage to talk to the 

 demonstration of their own ignorance of the subject. However, this 

 discussion has been already so severely commented upon in several of the 

 newspapers of the Mississippi Valley, that it is quite unnecessary for me 

 to add anything farther, except the hope that the Legislature which choose 

 the successors of those Senators will have men of better education and 

 higher intelligence offered to them as candidates for the position. 



I regret to have been obliged to introduce this unpleasant subject, 

 about which I feel a warmth and severity, unsuited to the position in 

 which you have placed me. I must therefore close by begging you, in 

 your respective localities, to continue aiding me in my endeavor to cause 

 the Government authorities to give proper attention to this most important 

 subject. 



The minutes of the last meeting held in Detroit were read by the 



Secretary, C. V. Riley, and approved. 



The consideration of reports of committees was postponed, owing to 

 the non-arrival of some of the members. 



Mr. Riley made some remarks upon the variation in the venation of 

 the wings of Anisopteryx pometaria (or A. autumnata), and exhibited 

 mounted preparations of wings of this insect differing greatly from the 

 figures in Dr. Packard's new work. 



Mr. Grote considered the variation of neuration in the Geometridae as 

 of no great value as a specific distinction. 



