172 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



self-governing Dominions, and a Conference was called by the 

 Secretary of State for the Colonies to consider the desirability of 

 further extending the work already -begun by securing the co- 

 operation and financial support of the self-governing Dominions 

 and Colonies. By this means mutual assistance could be rendered 

 b\- the various countries within the British Empire through the 

 medium of a central bureau which would be engaged in the collec- 

 tion and interchange of information in regard to noxious insects. 

 It was unanimously agreed that the establishment of such a central 

 bureau was desirable, as it was realized what valuable assistance 

 it could render in the way of disseminating information and render- 

 ing assistance in other ways. Accordingly, a tentative scheme was. 

 submitted to the governments of the various self-governing Do- 

 minions and Colonies for their consideration. 



After due consideration, a further Conference was held at the 

 Colonial Office in August, 1912, to which the government ento- 

 mologists of the self-governing Dominions and Colonies, and others 

 similarly interested, were invited to discuss and work out a scheme 

 for Imperial co-operation in preventing the spread and furthering 

 the investigation of noxious insects. At this Conference the whole 

 subject was thoroughly discussed, and a proposal was evolved for 

 the establishment of an Imperial Bureau of Entomology to be 

 financially supported by the various Dominions and Colonies 

 and the British Government. 



It was proposed that the functions of the Imperial Bureau of 

 Entomology be as follows: 



1. A general sur\ey of the noxious insects of the world and 

 the collection and co-ordination of information relating thereto, 

 so that any British country may learn by inquiry what insect pests 

 it is likely to import from other countries and the best methods of 

 l^reventing their introduction and spread. 



2. The authoritative identification of insects of economic 

 importance submitted by the officials of the Departments of Agri- 

 culture and Public Health throughout the Empire. 



3. The publication of a monthly journal giving concise and 

 useful summaries of all the current literature which has a practical 

 bearing on the investigation and control of noxious- insects. 



