242 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



[Sept., '05 



with that of Osten Sacken will suggest more of contrast than of resemb- 

 lance. The catalogue of 185S referred to descriptions of 1800 specie.*, 

 scattered through one hundred papers. A large number of these earlier 

 species are unrecognizable, and hence the 2500 valid species recognized 

 in the revision of 1878 represent a vast increase in our knowledge for the 

 two decades. Mr. Aldrich's catalogue refers to 8300 species. In other 

 words, knowledge of American Dipterology has doubled during the past 

 quarter century, just as it doubled during the quarter century previous. 

 The increased number of present students of the subject bids fair that 

 future quarter centuries will advance our knowledge in strides of similar 

 geometric length. 



Eight thousand three hundred species. Almost as many as the de- 

 scribed Lepidoptera from the same faunal limits. Thus the Diptera now 

 stand a close third in importance among the Orders of insects, and ap- 

 parently will soon be the second. And this is the group which is so often 

 designated, "THE neglected Order !" 



The Catalogue of 1858 noted one hundred papers. Mr, Aldrich's 

 catalogue lists over one thousand papers, written by two.hundred authors, 

 of whom nearly one-half are contributing writers lo-day. 



In order to show the advance that has been made in a few of the familes 

 the following contrasting figures may be given ; 



Dr. Williston is having prepared a new edition of his manual of the 

 genera of American Diptera. With this manual and the catalogue in 

 hand many students will undertake the study of flies. A little collecting 

 will reveal some new species which the student feels should be rushed 

 into print. Hurried and scattered descriptions, however, are a drawback 

 in every branch of Entomology. I do not wish to discourage anyone 

 from engaging in the study of Diptera. To me they are as fascinating 

 and as wonderful as any group of insects, but I do wish that every student 

 would study the preface of Osten Sacken's catalogue and especially the 

 following paragraph: ^'^Specialization is therefore the motto of dipter- 

 ology. Amateurs may collect and name Diptera, but do not let them 

 publish anything until they have chosen some single family and nearly 

 exhausted it by study and collecting. If they try such a course they will 

 find that the exhaustive study of a single family is far more remunerative, 



