RETORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1898 rl3 



Among the important specimens added by purchase is a series of 

 17 preparations, each illustrating the life history of an animal species, 

 and showing each form assumed by the species from the egg to the 

 adult. These are mounted on glass and preserved in formaldehyde 

 or alcohol, in jars of convenient size. 



March 9 an examination was made by the assistant curator of a 

 collection of birds which Thomas W. Grosvenor, of Herkimer, de- 

 sired to sell to the state. The taxidermist's work on them proved 

 not to be of such a quality that they would be of use to the museum, 

 and the matter was dropped. 



Entomology 



Under this head is carried on a very important branch of the 

 zoologic work of the museum. 



The report for 1898 of the state entomologist, Dr Ephraini P. 

 Felt, appears separately as museum bulletin 23. 



The introduction n(.tes some of the more important insects 

 studied, describes briefly the work of the year, and contains several 

 recommendations. 



The contents of the report may be grouped under the following 

 divisions : 



Injurious insects. Under this title are included general accounts, 

 giving illustrations, life history, habits, remedial and preventive 

 measures, and bibliographies of the following insects : By t ur ous 

 unicolor, the pale brown By turus ; Trypeta canadensis, 

 the gooseberry fruit fly; Notolophus leucostigma, the 

 white marked tussock moth ; Clisiocampa araericana, the 

 apple tree tent-caterpillar ; Clisiocampa disstria, the forest 

 tent-caterpillar; Mamestra picta, the zebra caterpillar; 

 Xylina antennata, an elm leaf miner ; Lecanium 

 tulipferae, the tulip tree scale; Lepisma domestica, 

 bristle tail flshmoth ;Eurypelma hentzii,a tarantula. 



Hints about insecticides. Under this head are discussed the 

 general principles which must be observed in fighting insects and 

 the more important insecticides. 



Some insects of the year in New York state. This comprises 

 brief notes relating to the comparative abundance, destructiveness 

 and other interesting features regarding the following species : 



