II. THE STATION COLLECTION OF INSECTS. 



During the past year this collection has grown from a very 

 small beginning, a collection of between 400 and 500 named 

 species, to a collection of nearly 2,400 named species, including 

 about 5,000 specimens and probably a third as many more which 

 have not yet been properly classified and labeled. 



The number of named species in the orders represented is as 

 follows : 



Hymenoptera 167 



Coleoptera 1,J)00 



Diptera 80 



Lepidoj)tera 114 



Hemiptera Ill 



Orthoptera '^"- 



w(> 



Total 2,393 



Most of the additions to the collection were made by purchase, 

 A collection of Coleoptera, including nearly 1,500 species, was 

 purchased of Mr. Ph. Fischer, of Buffalo, N. Y. A collection of 

 335 species, including some of the less common species of the 

 larger orders was purchased of the Michigan Agriculture College. 



Objects of the Collection. 

 The collection is intended to serve two main purposes, first, 

 as a reference collection for the Entomologist, and, second, to 

 furnish object lessons to any who have an opportunity to see it. 

 As a reference collection, the correctly named and arranged in- 

 sects are invaluable to the Entomologist who must if possible 

 identify all the species of insects which come under his 

 observation. The biological material, also, which every collec- 

 tion of this kind should contain, furnishes an insight into the life 

 history and habits of the species to which it refers. As a means of 

 furnishing useful object lessons, the collection is already prov- 

 ing of much value. Farmers who visit the Station, and who are 

 interested in some injurious species of insect, have the oppor- 

 tunity of seeing the insect itself in all stages of development. 

 This opportunity may be extended by taking some of the insects 

 to farmers' meetings. 



