568 
as the foliage of the trees and disappearing 
as abruptly. For the greater part these 
forms are so minute that they ordinarily 
escape the silk net, and it is only in collec- 
tions made by some filter method that an 
alequate idea of their importance can be 
gained. Detailed examination of the filter- 
paper catches tends to confirm the criticisms 
of Dr. Kofoid with reference to the depend- 
ence on collections made by the silk net 
alone. The loss by leakage or escape is 
often volumetrically as well as numerically 
very large. Other interesting facts might 
be referred to, but there is scarcely sufficient 
excuse for it in this connection. 
A paper of systematic character on the 
leeches of the State Laboratory collection, by 
Mr. J. Perey Moore, is now in press, and an 
article on the Odonata, by Professor Need- 
ham and Mr. Hart, is nearly ready for the 
printer. Aside from numerous publications 
of an economic entomological character 
there have been published two quarto vol- 
umes on the birds of the State, and five vol- 
umes of the Bulletin of the Illinois State 
Laboratory of Natural History. 
As to future work, it is probable that a 
comprehensive entomological survey en- 
tirely distinct from economic investigations 
will be undertaken in the near future, and 
work is now in progress on ‘the first one of 
a special series of bulletins of what may be 
termed an educational nature, in which the 
object will be to treat various groups of 
animals in such a way ag best to meet the 
needs especially of teachers and students 
of zoology in high schools and colleges. 
These bulletins, while giving descriptions 
and synoptic keys, are at the same time to 
include such physiological and ecological 
matter as will make them useful. It is in- 
tended that they shall be scientific, but 
written for others than specialists. 
While cooperation in the work of the 
various State surveys would theoretically 
have several advantages, it practically 
SCIENCE. 
(N.S. Vou. XIII. No. 328. 
seems well-nigh unattainable because of the 
great difference in the conditions governing 
the action of each. Efforts have been made 
within the past few years to bring about 
such cooperation, but without result. If it 
were possible to have the energies of different 
surveys directed in part along similar lines 
of work synchronously, so that one specialist 
might work up a given group of animals 
for several States, there would be evident 
economy in time and money ; or such special 
educational publications as those previously 
referred to might, with comparatively small 
additional outlay of time and money, be 
adapted to use in several States instead of 
but one. It might be greatly to the ad- 
vantage of the surveys in different States if 
competent men in charge of the biological 
departments of some of the educational in- 
stitutions of the State should become inter- 
ested and responsible for the working up of 
special groups; and as far as Illinois is con- 
cerned, Professor Forbes would be greatly 
pleased if such cooperation between the 
State Laboratory and some of the working 
biologists in the State might be accom- 
plished. He would willingly procure neces- 
sary literature and aid in the matter of col- 
lections, and although not ready to make 
unconditional promises of compensation, 
would, I am sure, feel warranted in coopera- 
tion of a financial, as well as of a scientific, 
sort. Here we meet with one of the great 
difficulties in the economical prosecution of 
such survey work. The instruction in our 
leading institutions is so exclusively along 
morphological and physiological lines that 
the men coming from such institutions are 
not prepared for the kind of work required 
in surveys, and much time and expense is 
involved before they can accomplish results. 
A vacancy on the State Laboratory staff is 
often a serious matter, because of the im- 
possibility of finding men already prepared 
to prosecute such work. FRANK SMITH. 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. 
