[October 1884. BULLETIN BROOKLYN ENTOM. SOC. VOL. VII. ‘87 
In response to a question from Dr. Morris, Mr. Smith said that 
in the Woctuidae genera were undoubtedly based upon very thin charac» 
ters—less so than in Coleoptera however. 
Dr. Horn said it was long since laid down by Lacordaire that cha- 
racters of scarcely specific value in one group formed excellent bases for 
high divisions in others; genera have no existence in nature and are 
created only for convenience in dividing up large masses of species to 
facilitate recognition. Nature has species only. Of late however, per— 
sons afflicted with the m/z itch, finding new species scarce had taken to 
describing genera. For 12,000 species of Coleopiera some 2000. genera 
had been described. 
Dr. McCook says in the spiders and ants there is plenty of room 
for persons with the mz itch, as there is a very large mass of undescrib- 
ed material. 
Mr. B. P. Mann then proposed a combination of the Hatonolae 
cal journals of America to be published by a stock company and to com- 
bine the good features of each. This proposition provoked much dis- 
cussion and while the general sentiment was in favor of such a_publica- 
tion the opinions also went generally to the point that, it wouid be still 
less likely to pay than those now existing. The Am. Entom. Soc. is 
wealthy enough to publish everything in the way of long systematic 
papers presented to it, and the ‘Transactions’ would be the natural 
avenue for such works. The Bull. Bkln. Ent. Soc. covered another 
ground in the way of reducing to its simplest and most comprehensive 
form the knowledge of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera: often as, Dr. Horn 
stated, publishing the result of two weeks hard work, on less than two 
pages. It was also published and supported by a Society willing and 
able to support it. The Can. Ent. was supported by govt aid. ‘‘Papilio” 
was established merely to enable certain authors to get into print more 
rapidly than they could otherwise do. and its editor announced that he 
saw no reason for its continued existence. 
‘‘Psyche” has a hard struggle for existence, but will not suspend 
just yet. 
A committee was appointed to consider whether such a combina- 
tion was advisable, and whether and how it could be supported. 
This committee afterward reported adversely to any. such scheme. 
Prof, Fernald then proposed a series of very interesting questions 
provoking considerable discussion, and on these questions he weuld like 
the opinion of all who may have considered them. 
