56 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Voi. \ iii 



Mr. Bather described a visit last June to Lisbon, Portugal, during which 

 he imbibed much of the Republican spirit of the country, even to the extent 

 of wearing the national cockade and facing a squad of cavalry sent to subdue 

 the unexpectedly riotous mob in which he found himself. The collapse of a 

 doorway and hurried exit through buildings into another street saved our 

 entomologist from further mishap. 



In the market places he found a busy trade in live black field crickets, 

 for which wire cages were constructed, some simple, others elaborate with two 

 stories. Almost every household boasted a pair, at least, of these crickets, 

 the song of which is not as shrill as that of our species, but is on a lower key and 

 sustained. The people find the music enjoyable and believe firmly that the 

 crickets bring luck. It was reported to him that the crickets live in captivity 

 eighteen months and even two years. They are fed daily on fresh vegetation. 



Dr. Wm. Barnes, of Decatur, 111., a life member of the Society, whose 

 attendance is as frequent as the distance permits, spoke of the progress of his 

 collection of North American Lepidoptera, which is arranged according to the 

 classification of the order prepared by Sir George F. Hampson, of the British 

 Museum. He regards correct determination as of the greatest importance, 

 every species being compared with the type, if in existence. A new fireproof 

 museum, 30 by 40 feet of hollow tile, cement and steel girders, with three sky- 

 lights, 6 by 12 feet, is being built to house it. The present building is to be 

 retained to house duplicates. 



Dr. Barnes spoke of one accession last summer of 12,000 specimens from 

 a collector along Kern River, Cal., and a big shipment from the Yukon. The 

 force of spreaders can hardly get the 1912 catch prepared by the time the 1913 

 accessions come in. An item not generally known is that the famous Merrick 

 collection of New Brighton, Pa., was acquired last fall, its former owner feel- 

 ing that by this disposition all the specimens of determinative value will be 

 best preserved to posterity. Several other complete collections were merged 

 during the year. The Barnes collection now contains over 1,200 types and 

 co-types. It is arranged through the Pyraloidea, and is to be made as complete 

 as possible through the remainder of the Microlepidoptera. 



Although Barnes and McDunnough are themselves publishing their 

 taxonomic and other papers. Dr. Barnes promises that the columns of the 

 Bulletin shall not be forgotten. 



At a meeting of the Executive Committee Mr. J. R. de la Torre-Bueno 

 was elected a member of the Publication Committee, to succeed Mr. Pollard. 



R. P. Dow, 



Secretary. 



IDENTIFICATIONS— The Secretary sets apart the hour from 12 to 1, 

 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at his office, 15 Broad St., 

 Manhattan, room 9, Ninth floor, to receive visitors interested in Entomology, 

 and aid them, if possible, to identify, especially Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. 

 Beginners will be made especially welcome. 



The Publication Committee will be glad to receive names and addresses 

 of those to whom sample copies of the BULLETIN should be sent. 



