— Ill — 



rank, and so far as I know is the only other individual collection worthy 

 of the name, in the United States. It is difficult to find a reason for 

 this, since the species are not, as a rule, difficult to get, and they are 

 certainly not uncommon. 



The Hymenoptera, interesting as they are, can boiist of but few 

 followers. The collection of Mr. Cresson in Philadelphia, is the only 

 really fine collection of the order. Mr. Cresson has had perhaps the 

 greatest opportunities for accumulating a collection, and he has faithfully 

 used them. As a general collection, it is unexcelled. In some special 

 groups it is not so full. 



In the Formicid.e the collection of Mr. Pergande probably takes first 

 rank. This gentleman has devoted considerable effort to an accumula- 

 tion of material in diis family and has an excellent collection both in 

 Exotics and Natives. In other families of the order his collection is ex- 

 tremel}- rich, while not so complete nor as well worked up, as in the 

 Fonnicidce. 



The collection of Mr. Ashmead is especially rich in Parasitic 

 Hymenoptera in which he has described many genera and species. The 

 greater part of Mr. Ashmead's collection by the way is kept loose, in 

 small boxes and packed away in drawers. He has however begun to get 

 them into more usual and convenient shape so he writes me. The col- 

 lection also contains besides Mr. Ashmead's specialties a very fair general 

 collection, largely local species.- 



Prof Cook of Lansing, Mich., has of late been studying ApidcB and 

 has, I believe, accumulated quite a considerable material. 



The Hymenoptera are awaiting workers, and promise a rich reward 

 lo any one interested. Some families represent absolutely unworked 

 fields, while few are really known. 



In the Diptera the collection of Dr. Williston stands first, and is 

 really the only individual general collection of the order. Dr. Williston 

 is a busy man, but finds time for a great deal of work looking to the as- 

 sistance of the tyro. 



Mr. Coquillet of Los Angeles, Calif, has, as I am informed, a very 

 good collection of Western forms, and is especially rich in the Bombylii- 

 dcB to which Mr. Coquillet has devoted more particular attention. 



So far as I can find, there are no other collections of Diptera worthy 

 of the name, and the Neuroptera are still worse off, for so far as I am 

 aware there is but a single collection — that of Dr. Hagen, at Cambridge. 

 This magnificent series, the result of years of patient work in accumulat- 

 ing material, is practically the property of the Cambridge Museum. No 

 one else has attempted any systemadc collection so far as I know. Dr. 



