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The Collection of Insects in National Museum. 



We learn that the U. S. National Museum has acquired by purchase 

 Mr. J. B. Smith's Collection of Native and Foreign Insects. 



Mr. Smith's collection of American Coleoptera contained nearl) 

 5000 species, and was especially rich indeed almost perfect in the Cuin- 

 delidce and Carabidce and in some families, notably the Mordelidce, it 

 was typical. Of European and other Exotic Coleoptera there were fully 

 5000 species. 



In the Lepidoptera, while the collection was not so complete as in 

 Coleoptera, yet in some families it was scarcely excelled by any collection. 

 The British Museum with the possession of Mr. Grote's collection has 

 many more types in the Noituidce, but Mr. Grote's collection was by no 

 means so complete in species ; among these of the Museum are many 

 types and typical specimens. 



From what we are able to learn the collection of insects in the Na- 

 tional Museum at Washington is rapidly and steadily becoming the best 

 in the country. It contains the following individual collections. 



Collection of Prof. C. V. Riley, a statement of which was published 

 Ento. Am. Vol. I, p. 55, consisting of 17,225 species in various orders, 

 with 115,058 specimens. This is incomparably rich in examples of lar- 

 val development and history. 



Collection of Prof. C. V. Riley of adolescent stages in alcohol, and 

 minute insects and larvae in Balsam. 



Collection of O. Meske of Albany, at one time one of the most val- 

 uable in the country, and containing many types. 



Collection of J. B. Smith above mentioned. 



Collection of Belfrage, contained in part in the Riley Collection, the 

 large lot of Exotics however coming through the Department of Agricul- 

 ture. 



The Burgess Collection of Diptera, also forming part of the Riley 



Collection. 



The Morrison Collection purchased from his relatives. 



Dr. Williston's types of the Syrphidse are also to go to the Museum, 

 as he states in his Monograph. 



To these are to be added the vast and varied accumulations of the 

 Entomological Division of the Department of Agriculture. The Collec- 

 tions of this Division Prof. Riley has wisely placed in the National Mu- 

 seum. 



Also large increase has been made through the ordinary channels of 



exchange. The collection is therefore one of exceptional value and in 

 view of the certainty that hereafter it will be in the care of some specialist 

 as Curator or Assistant it offers itself as a safe and proper depository for 

 the collection of specialists. 



