ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



Phii.adei.phia, Pa., March, 1915. 



Reports of the Doings of Societies. 



Some time ago a well-known entomologist stated that he 

 considered the reports of the "doings of societies" in our 

 entomological journals the least valuable part of the publica- 

 tions and that the space they occupied could be used to much 

 better advantage for more important matter. We must con- 

 fess that we had not previously looked upon these reports in 

 that light, but on reflection came to the conclusion that, to a 

 certain extent at least, he was correct. 



Many of these communications, as published, are perfectly 

 useless and convey no real information. They only cost money 

 and waste valuable space. Their general type is something 

 like this : Mr. X. made a communication on the life history of 

 certain Coleoptera and exhibited drawings of the early stages. 

 Mr. Y. exhibited some curious Hemiptera from the Mountains 

 of the Moon and spoke of their habits. These communications 

 led to a prolonged and general discussion among the members. 

 Mr. Z. exhibited specimens of Colias philodice which werd 

 more or less abundant during the season- But why give ex- 

 amples — look into our journals and find plenty of things that 

 waste good ink. 



Even when they convey real information it is lost by the 

 solid way of setting up the type. Each communication printed 

 should be doubly leaded and the first word or two should begin 

 in bold-faced type, and where possible the order of insects 

 mentioned should be given. This would be of special advan- 

 tage to the bibliographer who dislikes to wade through a lot of 

 rubbish to get the essential thing. In addition, why should the 

 man interested in a particular group of insects be compelled 

 to wade through several pages of solid matter to find one or 

 two things that he cares to read or wishes to record ! It will 

 be best to discontinue such methods and only publish state- 

 ments that convey some knowledge of importance. Those ver- 

 bal communications which are subsequently to be published 

 should record facts of value, or, if only bare statements, they 

 should not get beyond the "minute book." — H. S. 



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