( xci ) 



skilled entomologist proves its necessity. It was well remarked 

 by Dr. A. E. Shipley, in his recent Presidential Address sit 

 Winnipeg to the Zoological Section of the British Association, 

 that ' a few years ago no knowledge could seem so useless to the 

 practical man, no research more futile than that which sought 

 to distinguish between one species of a gnat or tick and another ; 

 yet to-day they knew that th:it knowledge had rendered it 

 possible to open up Africa and to cut the Panama Canal.' 

 This witness is true ; and it would be difficult to point to a 

 more complete demonstration of the fact that natural know- 

 ledge pursued for its own sake, without any direct view to 

 future utility, will often lead to results of the most unexpected 

 kind, and of the very highest practical importance. It is this 

 that justifies the demand that both Governments, and such 

 private individuals as have the means, should do all in their 

 power to encourage the study and pursuit of science as 

 science, without waiting for such applications as may prove 

 to be of commercial or political value. When the benefits to 

 be derived from the scientific treatment of a subject are so 

 manifest as in the present case, even the most indifferent of 

 public bodies can hardly afford to stand aloof ; and it is to be 

 hoped that the activity of the Colonial Office in this direction, 

 begun under the auspices of Mr. Chamberlain, and culminating 

 for the present in the I'ecent action of Lord Crewe, may be 

 taken as an indication that the Government of this country is 

 becoming increasingly alive to the importance of securing the 

 co-operation of scientific authorities in administrative measures. 

 But beyond this, the movement will deserve a still greater 

 welcome if it helps to emphasise the importance of encouraging 

 the pursuit of genuine science, even when no immediate pros- 

 pect is offered of material results," — Nature, Sept. 2, 1909, 

 p. 278. 



I take this opportunity of reminding Fellows of this Society 

 of the existence of the Association of Economic Biologists, 

 which deals with subjects of special concern to Entomologists. 

 The Association held a very successful Annual General Meet- 

 ing at Oxford in July of last year, under the genial presidency 

 of Dr. A. E. Shipley. 



But the crowning event for all naturalists, and indeed for 

 all men directly or indirectly interested in Science, has been 



