April, '11] JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 291 



pensation. The ultimate outcome of a continuance of such conditions 

 is bound to result in deterioration, since many of the more progressive 

 investigators will turn to fields with better promise of financial returns 

 and affording equal opportunities from a scientific standpoint. Many 

 admirably trained college graduates have taken up entomological 

 work within the last decade, and several schools now have their resources 

 taxed to the uttermost to meet the demand of those who desire to 

 enter this field. Even with this additional supply of workers it is 

 impossible to secure qualified assistants at prices which were considered 

 ample ten years earlier. Many of these men with their years of experi- 

 ence in special work must soon find positions offering more than their 

 present income, or entomology will lose some of its most capable stu- 

 dents. This would not be serious if there were no need of their services; 

 but the contrary is true. There is greater apparent and potential need 

 today of practical knowledge relating to insects than was the case 

 twenty years ago and the demand for such is bound to increase. 

 This condition must be reflected in the opportunities of advancement 

 both professionally and financially or retrogression is inevitable. 

 The former must prevail. The latter is unworthy of a progressive 

 nation dependent in large measure upon the prosperity of the agri- 

 cultural interests. 



Bulletin of Entomological Research. — The appointment in 1909 of an entomolo- 

 gical research committee for tropical Africa augurs well for the future welfare of the 

 Dark Continent, since it implies a more adequate recognition of the important part 

 insects play in the dissemination of tropical infections. The representative com- 

 mittee upon which this burden was laid, proceeded at once to organize the work 

 and, as one of the results of their activities, we have the above mentioned bulletin, 

 the first number being issued about a year ago. This new publication naturally 

 concerns itself largely with mosquitoes and Tsetse flies, species of which are among 

 the most active and dangerous disease carriers, though an examination of the contents 

 of the four issues shows that those responsible for this venture are taking a broad 

 view of the situation. The original studies are not closely limited to species of known 

 economic importance, but include allies and forms likely to be confused with the 

 dangerous pests. Moreover, those affecting agricultural and other products valuable 

 to man, are given due attention. The work is of necessity pioneer in nature and a 

 large number of interesting species are bound to be discovered. We confidently 

 expect that the systematic study of African entomology will result not only in large 

 additions to knowledge, but in a material gain in information of immediate practi- 

 cal value. We take this opportunity of commending the auspicious beginning of 

 what will undoubtedly prove to be a magnificent undertaking. There is great need 

 of similar work in American tropics. A beginning has already been made though it 

 can hardly be characterized as a systematic and comprehensive study of the problems 

 involved. 



E. P. Felt. 



