26 ti THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Shape, colours and structure are well' preserved in this way. As a substi- 

 tute for alcohol he recommends : — boiling water, 250 cc, ; common salt, 

 3 teaspoonfuls ; powdered alum, one teaspoonful ; pure carbolic acid, 5 

 drops ; filter. 



Mr. Forbes spoke of the preservation of fruits at the World's Fair, and 

 suggested that plants injured by insects may be preserved in the same 

 way. Mr. Summers had found nothing which would satisfactorily pre- 

 serve fruits. Mr. Osborn thought that aqueous preparations would freeze. 

 Mr. Smith has employed with success methods similar to those of Mr. 

 Garman, 



A paper by Mr. Cockerell, entitled " The Distribution "of Coccidas," 

 was read by the Secretary. He compared the Coccida? of the West India 

 Islands with the adjoining mainland, and spoke of the further distribution of 

 a number of species which he had studied in Jamaica. Of 18 species 

 found on that Island all but 3 are known elsewhere, and 1 1 have been 

 detected outside of neotropical regions. 



Mr. Hopkins presented his views on " Note and Record-keeping for 

 the Economic Entomologist." He described the system which he has 

 worked out and adopted, and which he has proved to be well adapted to 

 the requirements of his work. The system consists of an accession cata- 

 logue and a species catalogue. Specimens of his cards or note pads were 

 exhibited, and Messrs. Smith, Osborn and Webster discussed the paper, 

 Mr. Webster giving in full his own system of note-keeping. Messrs. 

 Smith and Osborn objected to the use of check-list numbers alone for 

 species as adopted by Mr. Hopkins. 



Mr. Garman's paper on " Illustrations for the Economic Entomolo- 

 gist " was next presented. He considers that the object of illustrations 

 is to convey information and to save time in description, finish and tech- 

 nique, being, therefore, matters of secondary importance. The different 

 methods of reproducing drawings was very carefully and fully discussed. 

 Etching was considered in general impracticable, as calling for a special 

 method of drawing. Lithography was considered too expensive, and 

 wood engraving is subject to liability of the engraver to misinterpret 

 certain details of the drawing ; but at the same time it was admitted that 

 of our published figures wood-cuts are the best. In spite of its disadvan- 

 tages, it is the most satisfactory method, although somewhat expensive. 

 Cheap process figures are excellent for newspaper and other transient 

 literature. Their right in permanent literature, and especially in scientific 



