April, '13] HEWITT: IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 275 



assistance could be rendered by the various countries within the 

 British Empire through the medium of a central bureau, which would 

 be engaged in the collection and interchange of information in regard 

 to noxious insects. It w\as unanimouslj- agreed that the establish- 

 ment of such a central bureau was desirable, as it was realized that 

 valuable assistance could be given in the way of disseminating infor- 

 mation and other services. Accordingly a tentative scheme was sub- 

 mitted to the governments of the various self-governing Dominions 

 and Colonies for their consideration. • 



After due consideration a further conference was held at the Colonial 

 Office in August, 1912, to wdiich the government entomologists of the 

 self-governing Dominions and Colonies and others similarly interested 

 were invited to discuss and work out a scheme for Imperial cooperation 

 in preventing the spread and furthering the investigation of noxious 

 insects. At this conference the whole subject was thoroughly dis- 

 cussed and a proposal was evolved for the establishment of an Imperial 

 Bureau of Entomologj^ to be financially supported by the various 

 Dominions and Colonies and the British Government. 



It was proposed that the functions of the Imperial Bureau of Ento- 

 mology should be as follows: 



1. A general survey of the noxious insects of the world and the col- 

 lection and coordination of information relating thereto, so that any 

 British country may learn by inquiry what insect pests it is likely to 

 import from other countries and the best methods of preventing their 

 introduction and spread. 



2. The authoritative identification of insects of economic importance 

 submitted by the officials of the Departments of Agriculture of Public 

 Health throughout the Empire. 



3. The publication of a monthly journal giving concise and useful 

 summaries of all the current literature which has a practical bearing 

 on the investigation and control of noxious insects. 



The scheme was accepted by the various self-governing Dominions 

 and Colonies which were invited to cooperate, and the crown-colonies 

 and British Protectorates wall also participate in the advantages of 

 the Imperial Bureau of Entomology which has now been established. 

 The former entomological Research Committee has become the honor- 

 ary committee of management with the eminent administrator, the 

 Earl of Cromer, as president and the scientific secretary of the com- 

 mittee, Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall, has been made director of the Bureau 

 and editor of the journal. The government entomologists of the 

 Dominions are ex-officio members of the committee of management. 



The publication of the Bureau's journal which is entitled The Review 

 of Applied Entomology was commenced in January. It is being pub- 



