BIOLOGICAL SECTION REPORT OF DIRECTOR. 123 



ages, and besides, in some instances it; is not unlikely that we may learn 

 something more of the pre-historic inhabitants of this country. In this 

 connection I would suggest a more careful examination of the shells found 

 in the loess of the bluffs. 



In the department of Entomology, to which I have devoted my special 

 attention, considerable collections have been made, but owing to a 

 variety of causes they have not as yet been sufficiently studied. Lists of 

 the Coleoptera and Macro-Lepidoptera, collected by me, were published 

 m the first volume of oiu: Proceedings, but they are certainly far from 

 complete. During the past year several Lepidoptera and a larger number 

 of Coleoptera, not yet determined, were collected for the first time. A 

 knowledge of our insect fauna has scarcely been commenced, and there 

 is enough to keep a score of active entomologists busy for many years. 

 I have so far had the work entirely to myself, and I am not aware of the 

 existence of another entomologist in the county, and scarcely in the 

 State. A few others have commenced collections, but none have per- 

 severed. I hope this will not continue long, but that some of our young 

 men or women will take some thought of these most interesting ani- 

 mals. To any such I will gladly extend all the assistance within my 

 power. To properly obserye, collect, preserve and study insects, requires 

 much care and perseverance, and above all a thorough love of the sub- 

 ject. When once interested, the pursuit of entomology becomes exceed- 

 ingly fascinating, and I hope it may hereafter receive more of the atten- 

 tion which it deserves. My own collection, although still very incomplete, 

 will, I hope, form the basis of a large and useful collection, which it is 

 my intention to present to the Academy as soon as sufficiently safe and 

 convenient quarters are procured. Thanks to various friends, portions 

 of the collection have been carefully determined and arranged, thus 

 greatly increasing the value. The Coleo2)tera, numbering over 1,000 

 North American species, have all been named by Mr. Henry Ulke, of 

 Washington ; the Hymenoptera by Mr. E. T. Cresson,of Philadelphia, and 

 the Ortlwptera by Dr. Cyrus Thomas. In determining the Lepidoptera I 

 have received valuable assistance from Henry Edwards, R. H. Stretch 

 and Dr. Herman Behr, of San Erancisco, Cal., Herman Strecker, of 

 Reading, Pa., J. A. Lintner, of Albany, N. Y., S. H. Peabody, Chicago, 

 and B. P. Mann, of Cambridge, Mass.; from all of whom I have received 

 many specimens in exchange or by gift. During his short visit here last 

 summer, Baron Osten Sacken gave me much valuable assistance in the 

 classification of the Diptera, so that I have been enabled to arrange them 

 by families. The Neuropjtera have been arranged by families, while the 

 Hemiptera, Araclmida, Myriapoda and the lower Articulata are as yet 

 almost entirely unarranged. There is more work to do in caring for and 

 arranging this collection than I can ever hope to accomplish. 



In regard to special entomological work during the coming season, I 

 would suggest a careful study of the maple tree bark louse, its habits, 

 enemies, and the means to be used in combating it, a matter of vital im- 

 portance to this community. The small Crustaceans, such as Mr. Pratt 

 found so abundant last spring, should be carefully looked for and their 



