REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 213 



building up a valuable national collection of insects, I hare donated 

 ray own private collection to said iSTatioual Museum, and shall bend my 

 efforts, as entomologist of the Department, to increasing it, feeling 

 that by thus co-operating with said museum the Department will al- 

 ways have easy access to a reference collection, such as it would be im- 

 possible or unsafe to accumulate in our own building, because of the 

 want of accommodation, and the inflammable nature of the structure. 



In conclusion, I would again refer to the want of greater facilities for 

 the publication of the results of the work of the Division. The limited 

 space allowed in the Annual Eeport is insuificient to lay before the pub- 

 lic the results of the work in detail, and we are seriously hampered for 

 tbe means of publishing any extended volumes requiring full illustra- 

 tions. 



A bulletin on the Periodical Cicada, one treating of certain parasites 

 of injurious species, and another on the imported Elm Leaf-beetle, have 

 been iiublished during the year, and several others are ready for publi- 

 cation or in preparation. One part of the work on insecticides, men- 

 tioned in my last report, has been finished and only needs revision. 



Unless the special printing fund of the Department be greatly in- 

 creased, such works as the last-mentioned can be published only when 

 ordered by Congress. Yet when, a year ago, your predecessor asked to 

 have two monographs from this Division ordered by Congress, the Sen- 

 ate committee on i)riuting declined to order the same, on the ground that 

 it did not wish to establish a precedent for the publication of such mono- 

 graphs by this Department. One of these, viz., that by Dr. S. W. Willis- 

 ton, on the Sijrphiditi (a family of two- winged flies of considerable imjjort- 

 ance to the farmer because of their being essentially predaceous) will, 

 therefore, necessarily bo published elsewhere. I can see no reason why 

 this Department should not extend its usefulness and promote scientific 

 agriculture by the publication of more elaborate memoirs, as the other 

 scientific Departments of the Government do. So far as the Entomo- 

 logical Division is concerned, I have for some time, as expressed in 

 previous reports, felt the desirability of issuing, from time to time, 

 monograiihs that shall do credit to the Division, and would urge that 

 steps be taken to establish this precedent. In addition to the special 

 bulletins it would also be very desirable, as recommended in my report 

 for 1<S81-'S2, toissue ajieriodical or serial bulletin that would set before 

 the public, at stated intervals, while it is fresh, the gist of the more im- 

 portant investigations and facts of interest, as elicited in the corre- 

 spondence and work of the Division. 



The ofiice force remains essentially the same as a year ago. Dr. Bar- 

 nard has been relieved, and Mr. Otto Lugger, of Baltimore, appointed. 

 Mr. Mann has continued work on the bibliography of economic entomol- 

 ogy, and Mr. Koebele is temporarily stationed at Alameda, Cal. I take 

 pleasure, in conclusion, in acknowledging the efficient services of Mr. 

 Philip Walker, in the sericultural work, and the aid of my first assist- 

 ant, Mr. Howard, and of Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Pergande, both in the 

 routine work and in preparing this report. The drawings, as hitherto, 

 have been prepared, where not otherwise stated, either by Mr. Marx or 

 Miss Sullivan, with ray correction and suijervision. 



Eespectfully submitted, December 24, 1885. 



0. Y. EILET, 



Entomologist. 



Hon. iVTORMAN J. COLMAN, 



Commissioner. 



