Report of the State Entomologist. 287 



I [In a recent paper upon the "Systematic Position of the Orthoptera in relation to 

 other Orders of Insects," illustrated by forty plates, Dr. Packard has given an abstract 

 of the results of the examination of the external anatomy of a larger number of forms 

 including, also, Pseudoneuroptera and Neuroptera, than had ever before been brought 

 together. He proposes to modify our general seven order classification by separating 

 the Pseudoneuroptera from the Neuroptera, and Dermatoptera (consisting of a single 

 aberrant and perplexing genus, Forficula) from the Orthoptera. This modification, 

 together with a change made in the last edition of his "Guide" in the elimination of 

 Thysanura— a lowgroup of wingless forms showing myriapod features — would give 

 the following sequence of orders: 1. Thysanura; 2. Dermatoptera; 3. Orthoptera; 4. 

 Pseudo-Neuroptera ; 5. Hemiptera; 6. Neuroptera; 7. Coleoptera; 8. Diptera; 9. Lepi- 

 doptera; 10. Hymenoptera. 



Although the Thysanura are so degraded a group in development, it is honored by 

 Di". Packard with possessing a hypothetical form ("a lost type") in which he suggests 

 that all of the million of species of insects now peopling the globe may be supposed to 



have had their origin. 



Histological Studies. 



Histological studies, consisting of observations of the powers, peculiarities and 

 modifications of the cells that form the tissues of the animal kingdom (as also of the 

 vegetable), and outside of which no life exists, are no longer confined to the medical 

 profession, but have been earnestly entered upon by the zoologist. Until recently, his- 

 tological study of our insects has been neglected, but it may now be regarded as fairly 

 commenced, with every promise of its successful prosecution. 



Some valuable studies have lately been made by Dr. Charles Sedgwick Minot, among 

 which may be specially cited his "Histology of the Locust," as given in the Third Eeport 

 of the TJ. S. Entomological Commission, in sixty pages and fourteen plates, seven of 

 which are devoted to the brain of the locust- 



For other contributions we are indebted to Dr. Packard and Dr. E. L. Mark. 



Embkyological Studies. 



Contributions of much value to the embryological history of insects have been made 

 in this country, which will compare favorably with those of the German schools. Among 

 several others worthy of particular mention are those of Dr. Packard upon some 

 species of dragon-flies, the currant-worm, the locust, and some coleoptera and hymen- 

 optera. An incentive to these studies has been the hope that they might furnish a safe 

 and satisfactory guide in classification, but up to the present they have failed to yield 

 any infallible data. Another incentive should be found in the facility of study afforded 

 in the often transparent egg-envelope of the insect, and in the rapid development of the 

 embryo— in the house-fly, Muaoa domestica, a period of only twenty-four hours. Addi- 

 tional inducement is offered in the idea that has been advanced, that the embryological 

 development of an insect should present the series of changes through which it has 

 passed in its evolution from the first hexapod to the rank that the species now holds, 

 i. e., that the egg should furnish an epitome of ancestral history. But this has not been 

 realized. The summary, as presented, is too condensed, and has been, it is claimed, 

 too greatly infliienced by a natural tendency to variation, and readiness of adaption to 

 conditions. Much that is sought for is not to be seen. Missing links mar the continuity, 

 as in the evidences of the rocks. And there will always be " missing links " in the chain 

 of evolution with which it is sought to bind all living forms, and all that have had life, 

 to the primordial nucleated cell'— itself "evolved from inorganic matter through 

 electro-chemical force." 



Economic Studies. 



The study of insects in their relations with man — of their character, habits, trans- 

 formations, food-plants, enemies, diseases, etc.,— with a view of affording protection 

 from the excessive ravages of a large portion of their number, or of utilizing the bene- 

 fits that some may subserve — is what is'understood as economic entomology. In this 



