94 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



disposing' of it to other parties, because it is 

 stipulated in the Jaw, that the State Entomolo- 

 gist shall prapare a collecdon of the insects of 

 the State to be deposited in the Museum of the 

 Industrial University at Champaign. Action 

 in this matter should not long be deferred by 

 the State, for without (he attention of some one 

 who understands taking care of such a collec- 

 tion, it will soon be rendered valueless by 

 fungoid growths, mites, Dermestes, and other 

 museum pe.-ts. 



There aiv probably eight or ten thousand 

 species in (he collection — most of them dupli- 

 cated. They are mounted on tlie short English 

 pins, for Mr. Walsh hated the very sight of, and 

 never would adopt our modern Entomological 

 pins, which he termed "German skewers." 

 The specimens are all well dried, however, a.id 

 remarkably well set. Let us hope that they 

 will fall into such hands that they shall be pre- 

 served for centuries to come, and redound to 

 the honor and credit of him who toiled so ardu- 

 ously and yet so willingly to collect them — 

 that long after we have followed their first 

 owner, and have entered the Portals of Eternity 

 with him, these insects may remain a lasting 

 monument to his name, and that they may 

 never become lost to the world, as have those 

 of Thomas Say, and already some of those of T. 

 W. Harris ! 



A STATE ENTOMOLOGIST FOR MINNESOTA. 



AVe are pleased to learn that at the late meet- 

 ing of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society 

 in Kochester, Minn., resolutions were passed 

 earnestly recommending the Legislature to pro- 

 vide for the appointment of a State Entomolo- 

 gist. "We hope their recommendations will be 

 heeded, and (hat other States will soon follow 

 the good example. Every State in the Union 

 is cursed with some noxious insects peculiarly 

 its own, and the greater the number of workers 

 iu the field, the more quickly shall we become 

 masters of the situation. It is really surprising 

 that in a great agricultural country like ours, 

 subject to such serious insect depredations, so 

 few of the States have appropriated the pittance 

 necessary to the prosecution of proper Ento- 

 mological studies ! 



isy We have to thank our numerous friends 

 for their kind letters of condolence and sym- 

 pathy in the loss of our associate. The many 

 words of encouragement received will do much 

 to lighten (he task that falls upon us. 



OTjSTow is the time for all those whose sub- 

 scriptions expire with the first of the year, to 

 renew. Those who appreciate our efforts should 

 strive to send along with their own, the name 

 of some one or other of their neighbors. The 

 effort costs nothing, and besides that satisfac- 

 tion which every right-minded man feels in 

 imparting to others useful knowledge, there is 

 the reward which comes of having careful 

 neighbors who fight their own insect enemies, 

 and thus make it easier for you to subdue 

 yours. 



Erg"" There is yet avast and unexplored field 

 for the Entomologist in the South. Our South- 

 ern brethren suffer from some of the most griev- 

 ous inset foes, and (heir insect fauna is rich and 

 diversified. We conseiiuently take pleasure in 

 announcing, that Mr. J. Parish Stelle, of Savan- 

 nah, Tenn., is at work in the field, and will 

 continue to send us the "Southern Notes" 

 which he has commenced in this number. 



^y As the insect world is now, for the inost 

 part, wrapt in its hyperboi'ian slumber, there 

 are not very many questions for the "Answers to 

 Correspondents" department; and as those 

 questions which we have on hand do not re- 

 quire immediate attention, we defer answer- 

 ing them till next month, in order to make 

 room for other matter. 



Sy To all persons interesting themselves in 

 the American ENxojroLOGiST we will allow 

 twenty-five cents on every dollar, on all over 

 five names which they send. 



53*° Remember, that every one who sends us 

 five subscribers to the American Entomolo- 

 gist, la entitled to an extra copy free of charge! 



LOCUSTS IN INDIA. 



The recent foreign mails bring information 

 that a cloud of locusts of incredible volume has 

 lighted upon the fairest portion of the western 

 provinces of India, which were previously de- 

 pended upon to make up for the recent famine, 

 and restore plenty to dependent millions. Kice 

 advanced twenty-five per cent, on the appear- 

 ance of this plague, while a gloom has settled 

 upon the country in anticipation of the des- 

 truction of all vegetation wherever they might 

 alight. It is hoped that these destroyers may 

 be speedily destroyed themselves by the wind 

 that sometimes carries them into the sea, or the 

 calamity must reach a fearful height, and tax 

 all the resources of the government to mitigate 

 it. — Hearth and Home. 



