96 ENTOMOLOCY: 
found in their own Class, and consist of the predaceous or cannibal, 
and the parasitic species, wisely ordained to keep the others within 
due bounds. 
It will be observed that in both these methods of fighting noxious 
insects—whether of prevention or cure—an accurate knowledge of 
the nature and of the habits of each particular species is absolutely 
necessary. It is the all-essential, the basis and groundwork on 
which every intelligent experiment must rest. It therefore becomes 
the duty of the economic entomologist primarily to study and give 
to the world accurate accounts, with descriptions, of such insects, 
whether friends or foes, as more particularly concern the hus- 
bandman. 
DUTIES OF A STATE ENTOMOLQGIST. “ 
Many persons, not familiar with the facts here set forth, have no 
doubt wondered what can possibly be the duties of a State Ento- 
mologist ; while in the minds of not a few the idea prevails that he 
is to catch and kill, or by some means rid the State of, all vermin. 
As if by the power of an Aaron’s wand or the magic hest of a 
mighty Mulciber, he could perform the augean task of clearing the 
land of insect plagues! It may not be amiss, therefore, to briefly 
define his duties. 
Broadly speaking, insects are ten times as numerous in individuals 
and species as all other animals combined, and it is estimated that, on 
an average, there are five insects toone plant in any given area. From 
calculations which I have elsewhere made, (dm. nt. II, p. 258) it 
would require the entire working life of eighty-three persons at a 
cost of one hundred and twenty-six million dollars to describe and 
figure, in all four stages, the insects of the world. Insufficient as 
the estimate doubtless is, it will serve to convey some idea of the 
magnitude of the subject of entomology. 
Where the field is so wide the labors must be divided, and the 
comparatively few insects which particularly interest the producer 
are more than sufficient to occupy one man’s time. The farmer, 
as a rule, has neither the means nor the opportunity to pursue the 
requisite studies; hence the wisdom of having a State officer for 
the purpose. 
Such an officer should make an annual report, which shouid 
reflect the experience and observations of the year. Such a report, 
if well made, is, necessarily, the result of much labor in the field 
and close study in the closet, and should combine the practically 
useful with the scientifically accurate. It should be copiously 
illustrated, and the illustrations must generally be prepared from 
life by the author ; for, strange as it may seem, there are few artists 
—however talented they may otherwise be—who can draft an insect 
with anatomical precision. Such a report, aside from its educa- 
tional value, is of great material value to the State; but its 
usefulness will depend on the methods established by law for its 
distribution, as well as on the time of year of such distribution. 
In our own State it is bound in with the Agricultural Report, which 
is often a bulky volume, requiring a large amount of postage when 
sent through the mail; and I regret that there is not some provision 
of the law to have a small edition of the Entomological Report 
bound separately to meet the demand that is constantly being made 
of me for the same. 
The State Entomologist must, further, answer by letter er through 
the columns of different journals a host of queries that are contin- 
ually pouring in upon him from correspondents. He should 
endeavor to protect the farmer from the impostors and quack 
nostrum venders who are ever ready to palm off their vile 
compounds upon the unsophisticated, as panaceas for all vegetable 
and animal ills. He must lecture; he must read a paper here and 
an essay there whenever good can thus be accomplished. He must 
travel hither and thither over the State, to investigate the insects 
that are peculiar to different sections ; he must carry on all sorts of 
experiments ; but above all he should employ every moment of 
time not otherwise occupied in ascertaining the habits and trans- 
formations of species. 
These are the more ostensible duties of such an officer; but he 
has, in addition, to form a cabinet ; and the collecting, the classi- 
fication and arrangement, the proper determination of the species 
or description of such as are new—not to mention the manipulation 
necessary to prepare the specimens for such a cabinet—involve an 
amount of scientific detail and application, and of correspondence 
with scientific men throughout the civilized world, which few but 
those who have some insight into the life of a naturalist can 
appreciate. 
Now, according to the means expended will be the results 
attained. There is a limit to one man’s capabilities, and where 
the means are restricted, it often happens that only the inde- 
pendent enthusiast who looks for other than mercenary reward, can 
afford to fill such a position if he wishes to do any good at all. His 
expenses for engraving, electrotyping and other illustrating mate- 
rial; for books, stationery, expressage and postage; for assistance, 
experiments and experimenting material; for cabinets, chemicals 
and paraphernalia for collecting and preserving ; for traveling, etc., 
must all come from a salary which in no instance has yet exceeded 
$3,000 per annum, ‘The means are not at all commensurate with 
the vital interests at stake, and I hope to live to see the day when 
there will be a corps of well supported economic entomologists 
scattered through the country, instead of the few who are now in 
the field under crippled conditions. It is not well for our legisla- 
tors to be penny wise and pound foolish in matters of this kind, 
and the office should be so endowed as to warrant at least the proper 
assistance. In my own capacity I have often felt cramped and 
restricted in my efforts; and experiments have frequently been 
valueless where, if they could have been carried out more thor- 
oughly they might have resulted in great good. An incomplete 
experiment is negative and simply tantalizing where a full and 
thorough one would be positive and definite, and might prove of 
the utmost importance, 
HOW TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND STUDY INSECTS, 
Few departments of natural history offer greater inducements or 
facilities to the student than Entomology. He need not pass his 
threshold for material, for it may be found onevery hand and at all 
seasons. The directions for collecting, preserving and studying 
insects might be extended indefinitely in detail, as volumes have 
already been written on the subject: but the more general and 
important instructions are soon given. 
CoLLectinc—Beginners are very apt to supply themselves with 
all sorts of appliances advertised by natural history furnishing 
stores. Many of these appliances, when it comes to real practical 
