—163— 



in one family, a "splitter" in another: he will unite forms considered 

 as distinct, or will separate forms generally regarded as identical : nature 

 does not work in grooves, and it is unsafe to speculate in one group 

 from what is known of another, nor because sculpture in genus A 

 furnishes safe characters to treat genus B as though it must necessarily 

 furnish the same here. 



Capt. Casey advocates more accurate measurements, or statements 

 of the proportion of parts, and suggests a micrometer scheme for that 

 purpose which is very much inferior to some already in use. An adapta- 

 tion of the ordinary eye piece micrometer will answer every purpose, and 

 just exactly the instrument for the purpose is in constant use by Dr. 

 Marx to obtain accurate proportions in drawing. But with the instru- 

 ment perfect, 1 am not at all so sure that accurate measurement will 

 help us much. I feel very certain from my own observation that there 

 is a Cijnsiderable range of variation in the proportion of parts, and the 

 use of instruments for minute measurement would have the inevitable 

 tendency to a cre.ition of species on characters not sufficiently stable, 

 until experience showed wheie it could be safely used. Yet neverthele.-s 

 Capt. Casey's suggestions are good and timely, but it simply needs great 

 caution in u-ing tlicm. Despite the fact that entomologists have been 

 very conseivaiive- -perhaps too much so — in adopting more perfect 

 modern means of investigation, our science has not been at a standstill, 

 and we are annually making equal strides with other departments of 

 Zoology in the inc;ease of knowledge. 



'1 his is not pcriiaps all eniirely apropos of the work on Trogophlceus, 

 which seems very good — but it is called forth by that portion of the 

 paper which is equally impertinent to the subject matter of the title. 

 Capt. Casey is a r; former, and like most other reformers apt to overdo 

 matters a little. But on the other hand he will undoubtedly find fol- 

 lowers, and even the most conservative will take leaf after leaf of his 

 book until all the good ones are gone — then Capt. Casey will be made 

 responsible for the useless balance, while small credit indeed will be 

 given for the good results caused. I am very much in sympathy with 

 Capt. Casey in his general ideas and methods — but do not always agree 

 with him in his deductions. J. B. S. 



And now comes into court, Mr. Robert H. Lamborn with a pro- 

 position to destroy the mosquito, root and branch, by setting the dragon 

 flies on them; — a very good scheme — only impractical unless a species of 

 dragon fly can be produced which will prefer woods and city streets to 

 the open ditches and grassy margins of swamps. We shall have more 

 to say on this subject before long. 



