54 



SYMPOSIUM 



ON THE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES OF THE STATE; 

 THEIR HISTORY, METHODS, AND PURPOSE. 



THE ILLINOIS STATE LABORATORY OF NATURAL 

 HISTORY AND THE ILLINOIS STATE 

 ENTOMOLOGIST'S OFFICE. 



Stephen A. Forbes. 



The State Laboratory of Natural History has for its prin- 

 cipal function the making of a natural history survey of the 

 State, preference being given to subjects of educational and 

 economic importance. It is also charged with the supply of 

 natural history specimens to the State Museum, to the state 

 educational institutions, and to the public schools, and the 

 director of the Laboratory is required to present for publica- 

 tion, from time to time, a series of systematic reports covering 

 the entire field of the zoology and the cryptogamic botany of 

 Illinois. 



It is established by law at the University of Illinois, the 

 Trustees of which are the custodians of its property. They 

 also ajjpoint its director, and, upon his nomination, such as- 

 sistants as the work of the establishment may require. Its 

 appropriations are made as an item in the general appropria- 

 tion bill for the expenses of the state government, and con- 

 sequently come to it immediately from the State Treasury 

 upon the requisition of the director of the Laboratory. It 

 is now receiving from the state ^DHOO per annum, $8000 of 

 which are for the expenses of the natural history survey, $1,000 

 for the publication of bulletins and reports, and $500 for the 

 supply of natural history specimens to public schools. No ap- 

 propriations have been made t(j it for many years for the 



