296 [November, 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



Published monthly (except July and August), in charge of the joint 

 publication committees of the Entomological Section of the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and the American Entomological 

 Society. It will contain not less than 300 pages per annum. It will main- 

 tain no free list whatever, but will leave no measure untried to make it a 

 necessity to every student of insect life, so that its very moderate annual 

 subscription may be considered well spent. 



ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION $1.00, IN ADVANCE. 



8@* All remittances should be addressed to E. T. Cresson, Treasurer, 

 P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa.; all other communications to the Editors 

 of Entomological News, Academy of Natural Sciences, Logan Square, 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



Philadelphia, Pa., November, 1893. 



Now that the study of insect life has become of considerable economic 

 importance, and owing to the fact that we have quite a number of pro- 

 fessional entomologists in our midst, it is time that more general attention 

 was paid to the condition of our specimens for the cabinet and for study. 

 There are comparatively few people in this country who properly under- 

 stand capturing, preparing and mounting specimens in all their details. 

 There seems to be no very good reason why this should be so unless it is 

 that most of us are very careless, as it is almost as easy to do the thing 

 the proper way as the converse. The first condition to be observed is to 

 get your specimen without ruining it, and then the following manipula- 

 tions are comparatively easier, but so seldom properly carried out. The 

 insect should bear at least some relation to the number or size of the pin, 

 and all should be mounted at a uniform height. These and other details 

 are important, and will facilitate study even though it may not be con- 

 sidered necessary by a few, who think anything will do. Prof. Smith says 

 in the last number of the News that as a whole the collections of insects 

 at Chicago are rather disappointing, and we are sorry to say we have 

 heard the same opinion from others. More attention should be given to 

 this subject, and all should strive to improve in this matter. There is an 

 association of American botanists to which the condition of membership 

 is that one must know how to make "a. specimen which is up to a certain 

 standard (a high one). If such an association were formed among ento- 

 mologists in this country we fear the membership would be very limited. 



NOTICE.— Those who wish to continue their subscriptions to Ento- 

 mological News for the coming year, will please indicate their desire to 

 the Treasurer before January ist next. No change in price. We trust 

 that all will want to renew, and thus again show their appreciation of the 

 gratuitous work of those conducting the publication. 



