THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



I therefore desire to put before you very briefly some ideas which 

 have occurred to me on this subject, in ths hope that they may prove of 

 interest. 



In llie first place full membership must be limited, as in the case of 

 the Royal Society of Canada, in order to make it a mark of distinction, 

 and so a coveted reward for eminence. But how is the selection to be 

 made without probable injustice to some and the certain wounding of 

 the susceptibilities of many ? 



Do not attempt it. Begin with Associate Members only, which all 

 North American entomologists should be invited to become, and when 

 you have secured a goodly number, say not less than one hundred, have 

 a ballot by mail for a certain number of full members, no one to be 

 chosen as. such unless he receives at least a majority of all the votes cast. 



Fix a limit to the full membership, but do not try to fill the limit at 

 once ; let us feel our way and grow gradually, but once the limit has been 

 reached do not elect any more full members, except to fill vacancies which 

 may occur. 



It would be well to set a moderate limit at first, as it would always be 

 l)ossible to vote to enlarge the limit should it be found too restricted, but 

 it would be a very difficult matter to reduce the membership should it be 

 found to have been made too large in the first instance. 



On the other hand, it should not be made too small, lest the cry of 

 ''clique" be raised against it. 



The hapi)y mean should be aimed at in order that no one vvho had 

 not attained to some eminence should be a full member, so that member- 

 ship would be considered an honour. 



I would also suggest having a limited number of honorary member- 

 ships to be voted to men of eminence in tlie science, but who through age 

 or infirmity were no longer able to continue active scientific work. 



No question of amateur or professional should enter into the matter. 

 An amateur who attains to eminence in the science is, I claim, more 

 entitled to honour than a man to whom it is a profession by which he 

 earns his living. 



When a sufiicient number of members have been elected, they should 

 come together in an Annual Meeting and organize the Union, electing 

 the first officers, and at this i)oint great care should be taken to secure 

 officers who would be universally acceptable. 



The initial stage of every undertaking is often the most critical, and 

 in this case it is most important that there should be no appearance of the 

 Union bein^ especially identified with any one locality, but that all sections 

 of the continent should be fairly represented. 



