ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



It was a great step in advance when all the principal makers of microscopes were 

 induced to accept the Microscopical Society's screw, as any objective could be used on 

 any stand. Is it too much to hope for, that entomologists on this continent should adopt 

 a standard length of pin, and a standard height at which to place the specimen on the 

 pin, a standard spreading board for Lepidoptera and a standard style of setting? And 

 this brings me to the most important suggestion which I desire to make, and that is, that 

 North American entomologists might with advantage follow the example of the ornitholo- 

 gists and form a " Union " with a limited number of full members, and an unlimited 

 number of associate members, the full members to be chosen from the leading entomolo- 

 gists of the continent, but associate membership to be open to every entomologist. 



The American Ornithologists' Union has been a marked success, and I see no reason 

 why a similar union should not work equally well among entomologists. There are many 

 subjects with which such a union might deal, and if its decisions were generally accepted, 

 as I have no doubt they would be, I am sure it would do a great deal to harmonize the 

 work in this branch of science. 



To mention a very few of the things which might be dealt with in addition to those 

 which I have already mentioned I may suggest the capitalization or otherwise of specific 

 names, the nomenclature or numbering of the veins in the wings, the designation of the 

 various segments of larvae, as well as all the questions in regard to nomenclature. If it 

 be qbjected that ornithology is practically one subject, while entomology is a whole 

 collection of subjects, I answer, " True, but the same principles apply to all the branches." 

 Take the case of the capitalizing or otherwise of specific names. Some capitalize all 

 specific names, as Mr. W. H. Edwards, with whom on this point I entirely agree, others 

 use capitals for names derived from persons and small letters in other cases ; others, and I 

 am afraid the large majority, use the lower case letter in all cases. Would it not, how- 

 ever, be better in such a matter as this to waive our personal predilections and for the 

 sake of uniformity accept an authoritative ruling by such an organization as I have 

 suggested. 



With regard to venation the question of uniform designation is of much greater 

 importance, as it is impossible for an amateur to familiarize himself with all the systems 

 in vogue, and hence many generic descriptions or articles on structure are quite unin- 

 telligible to many readers. The old system of named veins and veinlets or nerves and 

 nervures seems certainly preferable to me to the confused systems of numbering now in 

 use by different authors, and surely this is a matter which could very profitably be settled 

 by such a body, while in the realm of general nomenclature the field is so vast that the 

 Union would have abundant material for business at its annual meetings for many years 

 to come. 



Another point in the same connection may be mentioned, and that is in regard to 

 the official organ of such an association. There have been at different times so many 

 different entomological journals started and carried on for a few years only to die out again. 

 There are many entomologists who cannot afford to subscribe to more than one journal, 

 and it might be better if instead of so many journals with small circulations competing 

 for subscriptions there were fewer in the field, but those more generally subscribed to. 



But lest I weary you with suggestions which may be regarded as savouring of pre- 

 sumption in an amateur, I would now invite your attention to a rapid glance at a portion 

 of the work which is being carried on by some of the leading entomologists of the con- 

 tinent. While, as I said, I prefer to leave to others who are so infinitely better qualified 

 the task of giving a review of the insect depredations of the year, I can hardly avoid 

 referring somewhat briefly to some of those which have attracted the widest attention. 



As Canadians we are naturally especially interested in the work which our own 

 official entomologist is engaged in. Dr. Fletcher is certainly untiring in his work, travel 

 ling about the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific to attend meetings of farmers, fruit 

 growers and dairymen, for the purpose of interesting and instructing them in the impor- 

 tance of economic entomology, and in regard to the economic value of particular grasses, 



