8901 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 99 



ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD, 1901. 



By Dr. James Fletcher, Ottawa. 



Canadian students of Entomology, in the past, have had many obstacles to overcome before 

 they could advance sufficiently in their studies to obtain that encouragement which is necessary 

 to incite continued eflfort. Congenial companionship is undoubtedly the greatest and most 

 useful help that any student can be blessed with in any line of research. It is manifestly of 

 great advantage to know who is working at the same studies as ourselves and what others are 

 doing, so as to correspond, compare notes and learn as soon as possible all that is to be known 

 about any subject in which there is a mutual interest. vVe all know how the'^accidental 

 capture of a rarity, or a chance incident, may direct our particular attention to some class of 

 insects or some entomological problem which but for this accident might never have come 

 before us. 



Having for many years felt the want of this information, it has occurred to me that if there 

 were published every year in the Annual Report a record of the important entomological events 

 of the year, it would be of considerable use to every one interested in Canadian entomology. 

 The plan of this Entomological Record may well, I think, be discussed by the members, and I 

 shall be very glad to receive suggestions as to the most useful way of preparing it in future. 

 The kind of information which it seems to the writer would be of use, will fall under the follow- 

 ing heads : — (1) A record of special rarities taken by collectors, with the various localities 

 and dates, which for ease of reference should be arranged under their natural orders and in the 

 sequence of some recognised check list. (2) The names of specialists who have devoted particular 

 attention to some order, genus, species, or phase of entomological study. (3) The names of any 

 'books of note affecting entomology, or connected with any branch of it, which may have been 

 published during the yexr. 



It is not proposed to include in this record, except perhaps in an incidental manner, facts 

 connected with Practical Entomology. This subject will be fully treated of in "Notes of the 

 Year " and other papers included in the Report. 



The compilation and preparation of this Record need not always be done by the same 

 person. I merely on this occasion submit a short outline or scheme, as a beginning, and, if my 

 opinion as to its value is correct, I feel sure that year by year it will be improved in form. As 

 soon as collectors and workers in entomology know that this will be a regular annual record, they 

 will themselves send in notes of their work and requests for information, which will make it 

 continuously more and more useful ; indeed it will be better, that this record should not be 

 always prepared by the same person when the final form in which it should be drawn up, has 

 been decided upon, and I would suggest that at each annual meeting the council should request 

 someone to undertake the work for the ensuing year, and then publish their choice, with the 

 a,ddress of the compiler, in the "Canadian Entomologist'' for January each year, so that 

 collectors may know to whom records should be sent. These records of captures, or requests 

 for information, should be sent in from time to time, and should not be held over until the end 

 of the year, or there is great danger of their being forgotten. 



Needless to say, every care must be taken that the identification of all species mentioned 

 ahould be as accurate as possible, and doubtless considerable correspondence may be required and 

 in some instances specimens may have to be examined ; all this takes time, and will show how 

 inconvenience may arise from records being sent in at a late date before the annual meeting. 



In the meantime I shall be glad to receive notes on the above mentioned subjects, or advice 

 as to improvements for the Record of 1902. The present article is merely suggestive— a 

 -beginning — and may be changed and improved to an unlimited degree. 



