1920] Holland: Entomology in North America 7 



the first entomological society formed in the New World. In 

 1867 its corporate name was changed to "The American Ento- 

 mological Society." It published under its earlier name six 

 volumes of Proceedings, and in 1867 began the publication of 

 the " Tra7isactio7ts of the American Entomological Society,'' now 

 numbering forty-five volumes. The activities of this important 

 association led to emulation in other parts of the country. It 

 was followed gradually by the organization of kindred societies 

 in Cambridge, Brooklyn, New York City, Washington, and 

 elsewhere. All of these associations began to publish sooner 

 or later. 



The economic importance of our science began to be more 

 generally recognized. A very great influence was exerted in this 

 connection by the labors of a young entomological enthusiast 

 who had recently left his home in England and come to the city 

 of St. Louis, where we are assembled this evening. At the early 

 age of twenty-five years, in 1868, Charles Valentine Riley was 

 made the State Entomologist of Missouri. He began the pub- 

 lication of his "Reports," continued until 1877. They are to this 

 day most valuable. In 1878 he was put by the Government of 

 the United States in charge of a Commission appointed to inves- 

 tigate the ravages of the Rocky Mountain Locust. Later he was 

 transferred to the Bureau of Entomology in the Department of 

 Agriculture in Washington. The successful administration of 

 the Bureau from 1881-1894 was largely due to his initiative and 

 to the fact that he had a genius for calling to his aid men of the 

 greatest competence. His successor is our friend and fellow- 

 member, Dr. L. O. Howard. Serus redeat in ccelum! 



Among the men who were the cotemporaries of Riley, and 

 even his predecessors, there should be mentioned Professor 

 B. D. Walsh, and the late Dr. Asa Fitch, both of whom rendered 

 distinguished services in the fields of pure and applied ento- 

 mology. The labors of Walsh related to the insect-life of Illinois 

 and the Mississippi Basin, Fitch dealt with the insects of the 

 State of New York. The writings of both of these learned men 

 are exceedingly valuable. 



An impetus to the study of entomology in North America 

 was not only given by the establishment of the Bureau of 

 Entomology in Washington, but by the establishment of agri- 

 cultural schools and colleges in the various states under the 

 provisions of the "Morrill Land Grant Act," which was passed 



