THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 



forty-one writers, seven of whom have discussed injurious insects only. 

 We wish that this latter number had been much larger. 



A marked improvement has been shown in the number, extent and 

 character of Entomological collections, both in public institutions and in 

 private hands. It is most earnestly to be hoped that the growing appre- 

 ciation of the value of these collections may demand and ensure their 

 proper care and future preservation. To this end it is very important 

 that each individual possessing a valuable private collection (and there 

 are now a respectable number distributed through the several States which 

 contain 5,000 examples) should make such arrangements for its dispo- 

 sition and preservation after his decease as may, within a reasonable 

 extent, ensure its perpetuity. The authoritative statement which has been 

 made, that the extremely valuable collections of Drs. LeConte and Horn 

 will at some future day be added to the collection which the ability and 

 zeal of Dr. Hagen has built up at the Cambridge Museum, is highly 

 gratifying intelligence. And in this connexion, let me endeavor to impress 

 upon each one of you the service which you may render to science by 

 availing yourself of every opportunity to urge upon those who have 

 voice in the erection of buildings devoted to scientific collections, that a 

 primary consideration be that they be made fire-proof. 



The literature of our science has already become quite respectable, and 

 its collection on our shelves forms no inconsiderable a library. The 

 eleven volumes of the American Entomological Society represent a large 

 amount of earnest and thorough work. The nine volumes of the 

 Canadian. Entomologist are replete with interest and instruction. The 

 numerous papers scattered through the pages of the Reports of the Pea- 

 body Academy of Science, Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History, Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, Pro- 

 ceedings of the Philadelphia Academy ot Natural Science, Bulletin of the 

 Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, Proceedings of the California Academy 

 of Natural Sciences, and others, fully illustrate the earnestness with which 

 Entomological study is being prosecuted, and give large promise of a 

 brilliant future. The exquisite illustrations of the " Butterflies of North 

 America " are a credit to our country, being fully equal to the best work 

 of the class in Europe. The publications of LeConte have given him 

 high place among the honored names of the fathers of American Ento- 

 mology, while the writings of Hagen, Grote, Scudder, Packard, Horn, 

 Cresson and Uhler represent no inconsiderable portion of the progress 



