llg ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May 



yet irresistibly drawn to the centre, we approached the Smith- 

 sonian and the National Museum. First we visited the Cap- 

 itol, called on the President of the United States, viewed the 

 Government Buildings, the Monument, Mt. Vernon; but 

 finally, having sent our lady friends upon an errand sure to 

 detain them all day, and having found my congenial friend, 

 Mr. James E. McDade, of Chicago, an early morning attack 

 upon the United States Entomologist, Mr, L. O. Howard, was 

 then planned, with a determined attempt to gain access to the 

 goverment collections of insects. 



Our peregrinations about the government buildings assisted 

 us somewhat in locating the Entomologist's office. We had 

 neglected to bring letters of introduction, so presented our 

 cards. I enjoy finding what may be accomplished without the 

 assistance of that too frequently used power known as a ' ' pull . ' ' 

 We had no excuse for an intrusion upon government officials 

 except our interest in entomology, but found that all-sufficient, 

 and were soon chatting pleasantly with Mr. Howard, whom we 

 found to be a genial, business-like man, with unusual ability 

 to rattle off scientific names of insects, even if they consisted 

 of some twenty- six or more syllables. 



After some minutes of pleasant conversation on insects and 

 men, Mr. Howard gave us a note of introduction to Mr. Ash- 

 mead, one of his assistants, whom we found by entering a 

 dark hole in one corner of the National Museum and then 

 ascending a winding stair. 



Every possible courtesy was extended us, and soon Mr. Mc- 

 Dade was examining the Odonata of the National Museum, 

 while my attention was given to taking notes on the Argyn- 

 nids. Before noon Mr. McDade joined me, and we then made 

 a hasty examination of most of the American species. After 

 thanking the authorities for their assistance we could hardly 

 wait to get around a corner before turning to gaze at each 

 other in amazement, for the collections in both Lepidoptera 

 and Odonata were far below what we had anticipated. Out- 

 side the Noctuidae and Bombycidse, where the labors of Prof. 

 J. B. Smith and Harrison G. Dyar are plainly evident, the 

 National Collection falls far below many private collections I 

 have seen in the West. Just why this should be so I am 

 somewhat at a loss to explain, but two probable reasons sug- 



