96 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



of each group, and give information concerning the food, habits, life 

 history and remedies of all species of economic importance. Such a 

 list when completed for Pennsylvanian species would contain the 

 names of at least fifteen thousand (15,000) species, and would make 

 a quarto book of six hundred (600) or more pages; but it would be a 

 vade mecum or working basis for future entomologists and biolo- 

 gists in technical work, as well as in applied entomology and agri- 

 culture, for many years to come. It should be prepared by this of- 

 fice just as soon as is possible. In fact, we have the manuscript 

 ready for publishing on some groups of insects as outlined above, 

 and await only the appropriation necessary to complete the actual 

 listing, publication and distribution of the entire list. A bill provid- 

 ing for such appropriation was introduced into the last Legislature, 

 and had the strong support of the scientific men throughout the 

 State. The Aristotle Society of Philadelphia, for example, is an or- 

 ganization of interested entomologists making one of its important 

 objects the co-operation toward securing such a publication. While 

 the measure failed in passage in the last Legislature it is certainly 

 recommended again and hoped that it will be taken up in the next 

 session and will receive favorable consideration in every regard. 



SPECIMENS RECEIVED 



Correspondents sent us many specimens of insects, reptiles, am- 

 phibians, birds, mammals, plants, weeds, etc., in connection with 

 their communications and inquiries. Of course, such specimens are 

 not collected by expert collectors and are not well prepared for 

 shipment. As a result often they do not reach us in condition fit 

 for preservation, but, on the other hand, many arrive in such condi- 

 tion that they can be preserved properly in the collections. In all 

 cases they are identified accurately, and careful records are kept 

 giving the names and dates of collection, the name of the species, the 

 name and address of the collector or sender, and such economic or 

 biological records as should be preserved to give any important in- 

 formation in regard to the specimens received. These records are 

 occasionally useful for reference, as correspondents sometimes make 

 additional inquiries concerning specimens sent. This shows the im- 

 portance of what might be called routine clerical work, which often 

 proves to be valuable when properly used. 



It is not suflBcient for us to depend upon specimens contributed 

 by volunteer contributors and observers, as such collections would 

 be indeed but fragmentary, irregular, and quite unsystematic. It 

 is necessary for us to rely fully upon our own efforts to obtain fairly 

 complete collections of any groups of animals or insects, and for this 

 reason we assign to some employees the work of giving a portion of 

 their time to the collection and rearing of insects in order that most 

 careful records can be kept of their dates of appearance in each of 

 their various stages, and such other important facts as contribute to 

 the essential knowledge of the life history that must be kept in mind 

 in all practical methods of rearing beneficial species or destroying 

 those that are obnoxious. 



As a result of the efforts mentioned above our collections have be- 

 come very valuable, and while we do not here publish a list of the 

 specimens received through the efforts of our own official employees 

 it is but right that recognition be made of those that have been sent 



