STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 185 



Probably one of the most startling, at the same time, the most 

 valuable contribution to our knowledge of insect life, which has 

 appeared in entomological literature, is his elaborate article on 

 contagious diseases of insects, which shows that a disease, in 

 many respects similar to cholera, is very destructive to our great- 

 est corn pest — the chinch bug — and may be communicated to 

 perfectly nealthy individuals destroying large numbers of them. 

 Experiments have proven that such a warfare is feasible, and no 

 doubt great benefit will follow its general application. In this 

 discovery alone Prof. Forbes has been instrumental in rendering 

 to the agricultural world more benefit than the combined efforts 

 of all other entomologists ; for here he will be using the most dead- 

 ly weapon, and a natural one, that is possible to bring against 

 animated nature. The Reports of Prof. Forbes are peculiar in that 

 they embody, as a rule, original work only. Thus he has added 

 directly to our knowledge of the life histories of, and remedies 

 for, the corn-root worm, chinch bug, strawberry insects, of which 

 he has published the most elaborate treatise extant, cabbage 

 worm, wheat and corn insects, together with hundreds of others. 

 But to obtain an adequate idea of the value of his discoveries 

 one must read his published reports and papers — the latter of 

 which have appeared in the various scientific and agricultural 

 periodicals and publications. 



Having been called to the chair of Entomology and Zoology, in 

 the Illinois State University, January 1st, 1885, Prof. Forbes re- 

 moved the State Laboratory to Champaign, where it is now 

 located. There he has organized and built up a zoological de- 

 partment in the University, equipped an elegant biological labora- 

 tory, and collected the best working library of natural history 

 this side of the Alleghanies. 



The Professor was^ married in 1873 to Miss Clara S. Gaston, of 

 Normal, and has five children. 



Prof. Forbes' labors have been recognized in many ways by in- 

 stitutions of learning, and scientific societies. He received the 

 degree of Ph. D., from Indiana State University in 1884. In 1887 

 he received the first class medal of one of the leading scientific 

 societies of France for his publication on the food of birds, 

 fishes, and insects. He is a member and secretaty of the State 

 Natural History Society, Fellow of the A. A. A. S., active mem- 

 ber and ex-president of the Cambridge Entomologist Club, 

 American Ornithological Union, corresponding member of the 

 Chicago Academy of Science, Davenport Academy of Science, 

 active member of the State Microscopical Society and Fel- 

 low of the Royal Microscopical Society. He is original mem- 

 ber and ex-president of the Western Society of Naturalists, 

 vice-president of the Association of Ofiicial Entomologists, and 

 honorary member of many Horticultural Societies, etc., etc. 

 Prof. Forbes' field of labor is continually enlarging so that now 



