BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE ILLINOIS STATE LABORA- 

 TORY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



STEPHEN A. FORBES, Ph. D., Dibeotoe. 



Dr. S. H. Peahochj, Regent of the University. 



Sir: In accordance with the suggestion of the Committee 

 on Publication, I have the honor to transmit herewith to the 

 Trustees of the University, for publication in their biennial report, 

 a statement of the operations of the State Laboratory of Natural 

 History, under my direction, for the two years closing October 31, 

 18S8, — this being substantially a summary of the quarterly reports 

 made to the Board at their regular meetings. 



The work of the Laboratory is twofold, relating on the one 

 hand to the natural history survey of the State (formally authorized 

 and organized by the Legislature of 1884-85), and on the other, to 

 the State Entomologist's Office (established in 1867), the working 

 funds of which are all derived, under existing arrangements, from 

 the Laboratory appropriations. As State Entomologist, I am directly 

 responsible only to the Governor; but the entomological and the 

 general zoological work going on under my charge are so intimately 

 blended that I cannot well report upon one without including the 

 other; and as both are now supported by State appropriations ad- 

 ministered by this Board, I have thought best to include both in this 

 statement. 



ORGANIZATION. 



The working force of the Laboratory for the past two years has 

 included a Director, serving without salary;* a botanist. Prof. T. J. 

 Burrill; a botanical assistant, Mr. M. B. Waite; a zoological as- 

 sistant. Prof. W. H. Garman; two entomological assistants, one 

 especially assigned to field work, Mr. C. M. Weed, succeeded by Mr. 



♦The item of $2,000 per aunnm appropriated as salary of the Director of 

 the Laboratory (Laws of Illinois. Soth General Assembly p. 71, Sec. 1) is not 

 drawn or available as long as that officer is also State Entomologist. (Laws of 

 Illinois, 34' h General Assembly p. 24, Sec. 4.) 



