191Jf] Animal Life of JSTokth Carolina 87 



this is obvious for all forms which are of immediate economic 

 importance. It is also apparent for all that host of forms which 

 have potential powers for good or evil, while with the many 

 forms which for the present seem to be of no direct importance 

 we need the same data not only to strengthen and complete the 

 chain of information, but because we never can. tell when some 

 unsuspected relationship between them and our welfare may be 

 discovered. 



The accumulation of data of this kind and its publication, 

 could but supplement and strengthen the work of those who are 

 chiefly interested in the study of that other branch of biology, — 

 morphology. And it would furnish a safer ground-work for 

 such directly economic studies as the life-histories of destruc- 

 tive insects, the spread of weeds and of fungous diseases of 

 plants. Closely allied to it would be studies on the interplay 

 of biological forces ; influence of parasites on host of birds and 

 insects, of birds in spread of weeds, of insects on spread of 

 plan^ and animal diseases, etc. 



In state Biological Survey work, Illinois seems to be in the 

 lead with a state Laboratory of Natural History established by 

 law and supported by legislative appropriation since 1885. 



Certainly for the present I do not believe that North Caro- 

 lina could be expected to appropriate of its public funds for 

 work of this kind, but I cherish the hope that those of our insti- 

 tutions and individuals who are interested in biological work, 

 may find some way to so correlate their efforts that more help 

 may be given from one to another. Might we not hope by such an 

 united effort to prepare and publish, as time goes on, volumes on 

 the other groups of animals, as has already been done for the 

 fishes ? Can we not hope for similar work on the plants ? The 

 question of means for publication may appear serious, but the 

 speaker is persuaded that when any worker or body of workers 

 has secured and carefully assembled the data, that some means 

 of publication and of illustration also, can be found. Our Geo- 

 logical Survey has made a splendid start in this, and surely 

 some way can be found for its continuance. 



During the past year, in Ohio, some twelve or more educa- 

 tional institutions have united their efforts to establish the 



