67 



until 1881. It publisbed 5 reports and 7 bulletins. The first two of 

 the annual reports related to the Eocky Mountain locust and allied 

 migratory locusts, and form together probably the most complete mono- 

 graph of any o:ie insect ever published. The practical end was kept 

 constantly in view, and the reports are thoroughly practical, as well 

 as thoroughly scientific. In the appropriations for the year 1879 the 

 commission was instructed to report upon cotton insects, and the results 

 of the investigation thus brought about are published in the fourth 

 report of the commission on the cotton worm and boll worm — another 

 elaborate volume which can not be too highly j)raised from all stand- 

 points. The third report treats of a variety of topics and includes two 

 important monographs, one upon the army worm and the other upon 

 canker worms, while the fifth report contains a full and comparatively 

 exhaustive treatment of the subject of the insects injurious to forest 

 and shade trees. The first, second, and third reports are published 

 under the joint authorship of the three commissioners, the fourth under 

 the sole authorship of Prof. Riley, and the fifth under the sole author- 

 ship of Dr. Packard. i 

 Illinois. — During the regular session of the legislature of Illinois, 

 in the winter of lS6G-'67, a law was passed enacting that a State ento- 

 mologist shall, "by and with the consent of the senate, be appointed by 

 the governor, with a salary of $2,000 per annum, for ti period of two 

 years, or until his successor is appointed and qualified," This legisla- 

 tion was the result of a petition from the State Horticultural Society, 

 and on May 21, 1807, the society passed the following resolution: 



That the president of the society be authorized to engage B. D. Walsh to immedi- 

 ately commence entomological investigations in relation to horticulture, and be 

 empowered to pay out for that purpose a sum not exceeding $500 from the legislative 

 appropriation. This action is taken in case of the failure to appoint. 



At a special session of the legislature held in June, 1877, the gov- 

 ernor sent in the name of Mr. Walsh for confirmation, but the senate post- 

 poned action upon it until the next regular biennial session in the winter 

 of 1868-'09. Hence it follows that Mr. Walsh's first and only report 

 was published as acting State entomologist, his untimely death occur- 

 ring before his second report was prepared, its preparation having been 

 delayed by a long period of ill health which preceded the railway acci- 

 dent which was the immediate cause of his demise. Mr. Walsh was a 

 retired farmer and lumber dealer of English university training, who 

 for a number of years prior to his appointment had been industriously 

 studying entomology and had written largely for the agricultural press 

 upon the subject of injurious insects. Although not a naturalist by 

 training, his work showed extraordinary powers of observation, and 

 his published writings, as well as the statements of his contemporaries, 

 indicate that he possessed a remarkable mind. In this connection, 

 however, we have occasion to speak only of his official work as indi- 

 cated in his one report. In this report, which is now unfortunately 

 5216— Is"o. 2 2 



