REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1906 43 
cuting the special investigations mentioned above. A very fine 
collection of parasitic wasps (Chrysididae) was received from A. 
Mocsary, Budapest, Hungary, and a valuable addition to our 
Tachina flies from Dr Mario Bezzi of Italy. Some exceedingly 
desirable mosquitos from the south and southwestern part of this 
country, from Jamaica and the Philippine Islands were obtained 
through various correspondents of the office. 
The special collections made by the members of the office staff 
in the Cecidomyiidae, mentioned above, have resulted in enormous 
additions to this group. The work upon the State collections has 
continued with unabated vigor and the general condition of the 
collections has been much improved, particularly in the families 
Ortalidae, Trypetidae, Dolichopodidae and Ephydridae. The rep- 
resentatives of the latter groups have been determined by Assistant 
Entomologist Young. The midges (Chironomidae) have received 
considerable study at the hands of Assistant I. L. Nixon, who has 
also devoted much time to the general arrangement and classifica- 
tion of the Coleoptera. 
Office work. The general work of the office has been con- 
ducted about as in preceding years, the Assistant Entomologist 
taking charge of the correspondence during the absence of the 
Entomologist. The popular interest aroused in the search for the 
gipsy and brown tail moths in this State resulted in a great many 
insects being sent in for determination. This work devolved very 
largely upon Mr Young. A well sustained interest is shown bi 
the correspondence: 2120 letters, 1284 postals, 215 circulars and 
3317 packages were sent through the mails and 208 packages were 
shipped by express. 
Nursery certificates. The practice of recent years has been 
continued and nursery certificates for persons desiring to ship into 
the state of Virginia indorsed by the. State Entomologist upon 
the request of the State Commission of Agriculture. The fol- 
lowing is a list of firms to whom these nursery certificates were 
issued during 1906: The Rogers Nurseries, Stark Bros., Bryant 
Bros., George A. Sweet, Morey & Son, G. W. Whitney & Co., 
Sheerins Wholesale Nursery, all of Dansville; Wheelock & Clark, 
T. S. Hubbard Co., George S. Joselyn, L. Roesch, Foster & Grif- 
fith, F. E. Schifferli, all of Fredonia; Reliance Nursery Co., The 
R. G. Chase Co., The M. H. Harman Co., all of Geneva; Jackson 
& Perkins Co., Newark; Stark Bros., Portland; Brown Bros. Co., 
Green Nursery Co., Charles V. Wyman, Ellwanger & Barry, 
