N O X K. 



By provisions in an act of tlie Legislature, S. N. Y. — Chapter 355 of the 

 Laws of 1883 — entitled an act to regulate the State Museum of Natural 

 History * * * "the State Entomologist is placed on the scientific 

 staff of the Museum, and the Trustees of said Museum are authorized to 

 publish each year his. scientific contributions, which publication shall be 

 in lieu of the report now required by law from the State Entomologist." 



In compliance with the above provisions, four reports have subse- 

 quently been made to the Kegents of the University of the State of New 

 York, and have been published in the Annual Eeports on the State Museum. 



As the desired facilities for publication were not afforded under the then 

 existing system of public printing, the reports have been brief and without 

 the illustration and other features that were thought to enhance the useful- 

 ness and value of those preceding. 



The report for 1883 will be found in pages 45-60 of the Thirty-seventh 

 Eeport on the New York State Museum of Natural History. It contains 

 notices of official work and field collections, and of depredations by 

 Orgyia in Albany and by the Chinch bug in Northern New York. 



The report for 1884, is contained in the Thirty-eighth Museum Keport, 

 pages 67-76. In addition to a list of the publications of the State Ento- 

 mologist for the year and contributions to the Department for the same 

 time, a sequel to the insect attacks of the preceding year is appended. 



The report for 1885, occupies pages 77-125 of the Thirty-ninth Museum 

 Report; For an enumeration of its contents see page 320 of this volume. 



The report for 1886, is contained in pages 79-154 of the Fortieth State 

 Museum Report, published in 1887. For its contents see page 324 of this 

 volume. Of this report, 200 copies, with title-page and cover were 

 printed as separates for the Entomologist for his distribution. Although 

 .not so designated, it may be regarded as the " Third Report on the 

 Insects of New York," etc., in continuation of the series (the present 

 being entitled the Fourth), and for permitting a readier reference to 

 it in citations. It has already been so referred to in scientific publications. 



Of the reports for 1883, 1884 and 1885, no copies having been printed 

 outside of the small museum edition, such portions of them as may be 

 deemed of interest, will probably be incorporated in the next (Fifth) 

 report of the State Entomologist. 



