— 103— 



The second, and most important branch of my subject, is the "Ento- 

 mological Colleclions of the United States." 



Considerable has been written during the past year of the educational 

 value of entomological collections, principally in the "Entomologist." 

 The collection and systematic arrangement of any series of specimens is 

 undoubtedly educational to some extent ; but in entomological collections 

 neatness, patience and accuracy are cultivated, while, if the collector is 

 at the same time a student, ic brings all his powers of observation into 

 play, and the training is useful in developing all his faculties. 



No one will question the fact that numerous, well determined and 

 easily accessible collections are the best possible aids and enciters to the 

 study of any branch of Science, and many a promising young fellow has 

 abandoned Entomology simply because there was no collection to which 

 he could refer for suggestions or determinations. 



Although the number of private collections in the United States is 

 much smaller than in any European country (Turkfey perhaps excepted) 

 yet their number is quite large, at least in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, 

 if the record in the Naturalist's Directory may be taken as a guide. 



But — there are collections and collections. We have the acumulation 

 of handsome specimens arranged in Stars, Eagles, Harps and other at- 

 tractive forms on the walls of rooms and in Museums — save the mark— 

 and every intergrade between that, and really scientific collections. 



Most of our collections made by individuals occupy a somewhat 

 intermediate standpoint — that is they are rather above the level of a picture 

 collection, and do not attain the level of a collection which could be made 

 useful to Science, by the owner himself or any one else. 



The reasons are partly want of time on the part of the owner, partly 

 the want of suitable illustrated and comprehensive literature to bridge 

 over the interspace between the childish collector and the investigator and 

 critical examiner and particularly the difficulty of overcoming the "col- 

 lecting mania." 



This "mania" does not run to careful and thorough field work — 

 unfortunately not — it runs to the acumulation of material in any way, 

 collection, exchange, purchase — all things are tried so that you can get 

 what your neighbor has and perhaps some thing on the list that he does 

 not have. The result is that collections are everywhere much the same. 

 The same Cicindelce —\k\^ same Cerambycidce — ^the same Bombycida — 

 much the same Noc/uidcB — the same stock rarities are represented in 

 all collections. 



This leads to another, and perhaps the most grivous fault in most 

 of our collections. Specimens are received as a certain species and placed 

 as such. Few collectors will undertake to verify the determination of 



