ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



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PHILADELPHIA, PA., DECEMBER, 1903. 



One of the most useful works that could be produced, and 

 one that is badly needed in American entomology, is a refer- 

 ence catalogue of the Coleoptera. An essential feature of 

 such a catalogue would be the distribution of the species. It 

 would give an immense impetus to the study of this order of 

 insects, and induce persons to name their material from origi- 

 nal sources, whereas, at the present time, much of it is done 

 by comparison, which makes collectors, but not students. It 

 is often desirable to know something of the distribution of a 

 beetle, and it is simply impossible to find it out without labor 

 that is out of all proportion to the return. We know of noth- 

 ing that would be a greater boon to workers in the order, and 

 it would at once place the study of these insects on a much 

 higher plane. To be sure, we have Gemminger and Harold's 

 Catalogue, published (commenced) in 1868, but now anti- 

 quated and not accessible to many students. We have been 

 unofficially informed that the National Museum would under- 

 take the publication of such a work if an author can be found 

 to prepare it. We hope we may have the pleasure of seeing 

 this catalogue in the very near future. 



141 LEPIDOPTERA captured in four hours at Meramec Highlands, St. 

 Louis Co., Mo., April lath, 1903. 



We arrrved at tile Highlands at 9.30 A. M. via. Frisco R. R. Mr. 1', 



334 



