1913 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 35 



esting a discussion as a paper read by Mr. Eogers of the British Board of Agri- 

 culture, on the question of legislation and the control of insect pests. As a result 

 of this discussion a resolution was moved in support of the proposed formation by 

 the International Institute of Agriculture at Eome, of an international commission 

 to deal with the broad question of the prevention and spread of insect pests, and 

 this resolution was unanimously adopted by the Congress. 



This brings me to the second part of my address and to a consideration of the 

 Imperial aspect of entomology. During the past year the Colonial Office and the 

 various self-governing Dominions and colonies have had under consideration a 

 scheme for the formation of an Imperial Entomological Bureau. A scheme was 

 submitted last year, and during my visit to England at the beginning of the year 

 I consulted with the Entomological Research Committee of the Colonial Office in 

 regard to this scheme, which appeared to us to be too restricted in its character. 

 The idea was to assist the self-governing colonies and dominions in preventing 

 the spread of insects within the empire, by collecting and distributing information 

 from all parts of the empire with regard to the prevalence and distribution of 

 insect pests. 



In case of Canada, however, we obtain the greater part of our natural products 

 from non-British countries, and consequently we have to keep ourselves informed 

 of the prevalent insect pests in those countries. We, therefore, felt that if the 

 collecting of this information, relative to injurious insects, was confined to the 

 countries within the British Empire we should derive very little benefit from it. 



To work out a scheme satisfactory to all the Governments concerned, there- 

 fore, the Colonial Secretary took advantage of the International Congress of 

 Entomology and called a conference at the Colonial Office of the entomologists 

 and representatives of the various self-governing dominions and colonies. This 

 conference took place in August and it is a matter of very great gratification to 

 us to find that our proposal for a more extensive scheme met with the unanimous 

 approval of the representatives at this conference, and the scheme which was 

 worked out at the conference has now been submitted to the various governments 

 for their approval and adoption. It is proposed to form in connection with the 

 Colonial Office an Imperial Entomological Bureau which would be maintained by 

 contributions from the dominions and colonies, and also from the Colonial Office. 

 Its functions are mainly three: First, it will collect, not only from the colonies, 

 but also from non-British countries, information regarding the occurrence and 

 distribution of injurious insects. This information will be filed for purposes 

 of reference, so that any colony which may be desirous of importing or may be 

 actually importing vegetation or other natural products from another country may 

 inform itself, by applying to the Bureau, what pests it is likely to import 

 on such commercial products, and may thus determine whether in its own 

 interests it is advisable to protect itself by legislation, or by other means against 

 the introduction of dangerous insect pests. The great benefit which will accrue 

 from this function of the Bureau will be obvious to you all, and it will be an 

 especial benefit to those colonies whose entomological serv.ces may not be so well 

 organized as others. In addition to the collection and distribution of this informa- 

 tion the Bureau will also undertake the identification of insect pests for the various 

 colonial entomologists, and with the co-operation of, and the proximity to, the 

 British Museum of N'atural History with its immense and valuable collections, the 

 Bureau will be able to render valAiable services to the colonies in this resrard. iN'ot 



