1920] Holland: Entomology in North America 13 



There has been prodigious activity along taxonomic Hnes dis- 

 played by students of the subject during the past five decades. 



One of the most marked developments of the past half- 

 century has been the growth of interest in the economic aspects 

 of entomology, I have alluded already to the work done by 

 Harris, Walsh, Fitch, and Riley. These men have had an army 

 of enthusiastic successors, among them some who have rivalled 

 and even surpassed the most excellent labors of those I have 

 just named. Most of them are still with us, including our 

 Nestor, Dr. Stephen A. Forbes. An English entomologist of 

 renown, speaking to me some time ago of certain entomological 

 reports which he had received from the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and from various Agricultural Experiment 

 Stations, said: "We have nothing like this in the Old World. 

 The United States and the several States are greatly in advance 

 of the European nations in your application of science to the 

 arts of the agriculturist. I marvel at what you are doing." 



But it is not only in connection with agriculture thart the 

 entomologist has provted his worth, but also in the field of 

 medicine, as you are well aware. The study of disease-bearing 

 insects, and the ascertainment of methods of prophylaxis are 

 fields in which American students of our science have achieved 

 results, which must prove of inestimable service to coming 

 generations. May I say a word in this connection concerning 

 the splendid "Monograph of the Culicidas" in four great quarto 

 volumes, prepared by our colleague. Dr. L. O. Howard, and his 

 associate, Messrs. H. G. Dyar, and F. Knab which has just been 

 published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. I have 

 carefully examined it, and am sure that it is the best piece of work 

 in our science which the Carnegie Institution has thus far been 

 allowed the privilege of publishing. For years to come it will 

 be the standard work of reference for students in this difficult 

 field of investigation. 



Another sphere in which there has been marvelous progress 

 not only in our country, but throughout the world, is that of 

 technique. I might spend hours in speaking of this, but must 

 content myself with a few words only. There has been a won- 

 derful advance and improvement in the instruments and meth- 

 ods of research. Take that familiar tool, the microscope, which 

 we all must constantly use, how wonderfully has it been 

 improved! We have in the Carnegie Museum a microscope 



