37 



with the object of acquiring suitable tracts of land, and he invited 

 all entomologists to support this movement, with the aims of 

 which every true naturalist must be at one. 



Discussion. 



Hon. Walter Rothschild. — An instance of the necessity 

 of Nature Reserves in the interest of insects was the example of 

 Parnassius apollo in Germany. It was a favourite object as a 

 model for drawing lessons, and in consequence the few German 

 localities were actually harried and scoured in the interest of 

 dealers, and the species would soon be exterminated. 



Rev. F. D. MoRiCE. — The recent spread of golf and motoring 

 was destroying many old famous entomological " localities." 

 Hence whatever was to be done should be done speedily. 



L. O. Howard, having been invited by the President to say a 

 few words on behalf of the United States, said that in the United 

 States the Government had set aside very large areas for forest 

 reserves, and had also protected many regions of scenic beauty. 

 Recently, moreover, the policy had been adopted of establishing 

 reserves for the birds and mammals. No attempt had as yet 

 been made to allow insects an undisturbed existence, in fact 

 governmental activities had all been devoted to the destruction 

 of insect life as an economic problem. As to the inroads of 

 civilisation upon the haunts of insects, he said that one of the 

 most interesting entomological studies of to-day was that of 

 the change of insect fauna, brought about by civilisation and 

 its concomitants. Referring to Mr. Morice's remark about 

 golf-links, he said that a study of the flora and fauna of golf-links 

 had never been made, but that doubtless most interesting adapta- 

 tions to novel conditions were taking place amongst the grasses 

 and other plants which survived the constant cutting and tramp- 

 ing, and that doubtless many species of insects were adapting 

 themselves to this novel environment. Just how they were doing 

 this he proposed as an interesting field for study. As a golf 

 player, he did not consider the game as devoid of entomological 

 interest. 



E. Olivier. — Dans les forêts du Centre de la France tous les 

 grands arbres qui meurent sont actuellement enlevés immédiate- 



