48 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



I'.iit lie early saw that the subject was oue of natioual importance aud could not he 

 lully dealt with by work in any one State. To feel a necessity was sufficient for 

 him to act, and consequently we find him, in public lectures, in leading articles, 

 llirough resolutions od'ored at societies' meetings, memorials to Congress, and in 

 every other way urging the creation of a National Entomological Commission. After 

 various hills had been introduced and discussed. Congress finally created the Ento- 

 mological Conuui8si(Ui, with a special view to investigating the Rocky Mountain 

 Locust, or so-called grassho])per, aud Professor Riley was tendered the position as 

 chief of the Counnission, a distinction which his investigations into this insect had 

 justly earned, for he had already not only made most important discoveries as to its 

 habits and the best means of suhduing it, but had ascertained sundry laws that 

 govern it, so as to be able to predict the time of its coming and going and the limits 

 of its spread. Consulted by Secretary Schurz as to the other appointments, it is no 

 wonder that the members chosen were Dr. A. S. Packard, jr., a naturalist of eminence, 

 ou<' of the finest entomologists of the world, and a prominent author and editor, and 

 Prof. Cyrus Thomas, who had likewise labored for the creation of the Commission, 

 and who was the authority on the family of insects to which the locusts belonged. 

 Hoth of these gentlemen, like Professor Riley, had been chosen by their respective 

 States as official entomologists, and had a large personal experience in the West. 

 Accepting charge of the Commission thus constituted in March, 1877, we find Riley 

 traveling that year over most of the western country, from the Gulf to the South 

 Saskatchawan, in British America, now in company with the governor of the State, 

 and again with other special officials, but everywhere exhorting the farmers to 

 action, making careful observations and experiments, and inspiring confidence." 



He was tlie first to demonstrate the practicability of checking the ravages of an 

 important species of insect by enlisting the aid of the insect enemies which had kept 

 it in check in its native habitat. This was effected by the introduction from Aus- 

 tralia in 1888, at his instance and by two agents sent out from his office, of the 

 Australian Vedalia, a species of lady-bird, which is the natural enemy of the "Fluted 

 Scale," an insect which had found its way from southern Australia to California, 

 and was fast destroying the orange and lemon groves. 



His studies in connection with rhijlloxerojihe French vine pest, although not more 

 important than many others more purely American in interest, may well be referred 

 to on accountof the attention which they attracted in France, aud the honors conferred 

 upon him as a result. To hira is generally attributed the idea of reviving etiolated 

 French vineyards by using certain American Phylloxera-proof stocks to graft upon. 



As long ago as 1873 the viue growers of France presented him with a gold medal, 

 struck in recognition of his iuvestigations into the history of the Phyllojera. In 

 1889, as a further proof of their appreciation of his services, they presented to him 

 a beautiful statue in bronze, while the French Government conferred upon him the 

 cross of the Legion of Honor. 



Associated prominently with his name are certain practical methods for the destruc- 

 tion of insects : the use of kerosene emulsions to protect plants and trees from the 

 attacks of suctorial insects, and the invention and iierfection, aided by Mr. W. S. 

 liarnard, of a very ingenious series of mechanical devices for spraying insecticides 

 and fungicides in a liquid form— often called the Riley system. 



The vast amouut of work wliich Professor Eiley accomplished is shown 

 by the catalogue of his published papers, of which there are more than 

 1,G()(), many of them of very considerable extent, and the whole equiva- 

 lent to at least 20,000 octavo pages. 



Professor Riley bequeathed to the United States National Museum, 

 tlirough a trustee, all entomological aud other natural history speci- 

 ujens which had come into his possession during recent years. A 

 hirge collection of his pamphlets, relating to the subject of entomology, 

 lias been deposited in the Museum by Mrs. Kiley. 



