25 



it will be possible to delegate certain parts of any special investigation to such students 

 as may have special opportunity therefor. 



Above all the union will be an advisory board, either for discussing matters of great 

 interest to ourselves, or for the advice of the Legislature upon occasion of any serious 

 visitation or threatened visitation by insect enemies ; and thus while we are united we 

 shall do far better scientific work, we shall uphold better the dignity of our offices, we 

 shall gain the confidence of the public and of the government, and we shall be bound 

 together in a solid union for our own good and that of the country at large. 



Although I have taken the liberty of bringing this matter before you now, and ask 

 you to express an opinion on it at once, as you are well aware it is no new idea sprung 

 upon the meeting unawares. As I have mentioned, notices have appeared in Insect Life 

 suggesting the matter, and I have myself distributed, to every one who I thought 

 would be interested, a circular notifying them that I proposed bringing the matter up 

 for discussion to-day. 



The movement seems to have originated with the very eminent United States 

 Entomologist, Prof. 0. V. Riley, who has done so much by his writings and successful 

 experiments to raise economic entomology to the honourable position it now enjoys in 

 the appreciation of intelligent people of all classes. 



And now, gentlemen, allow me thank you for the great honour you conferred upon me 

 when you elected me to preside over you during the past year and at this meeting. I 

 hope sincerely that the Entomological Club of the American Association may continue to 

 prosper and be the means of bringing us all together at least once a year, like the members 

 of a large and attached but widely scattered family, who rejoice when, on such festivals 

 as Christmas, New Year's or Thanksgiving Day, an excuse or opportunity is given for 

 a social reunion, where we may discuss with each other, in a friendly manner, matters of 

 general interest. I trust that during the present meeting the deliberations may be carried 

 on in the same spirit of kindness and forbearance which has always characterized 

 previous meetings, and in conclusion I hope that we all may be long spared to meet annually 

 and derive from each other the benefits of scientific discussion and enjoy the social 

 pleasures of mutual intercourse. 



I am, gentlemen, 



• Your obedient servant, 



JAMES FLETCHER. 



At the close of the address attention was called to the absence of the Secretary, 

 and on motion Clarence M. Weed was elected Secretary pro tern. A long discussion 

 followed concerning the advisability of organising such an association as was suggested 

 in the President's address. Letters were read by the President from F. M. Webster, 

 Herbert Osborn, A. H. Mackay, E. B. Caulfield, T. E. Bean, M. H. Beckwith, W. B. 

 Alwood, W. H. Harrington, C. J. S. Bethune, J. B. Smith and C. M. Weed. Mr. Howard 

 also reported letters from L. E. Harvey, Lawrence Bruner, J. P. Campbell, C. W. Wood- 

 worth, C. P. Gillette, S. A. Forbes, E. J. Wickson, J. H. Comstock, all of whom heartily 

 favored such an organisation. Those present also expressed themselves in favor of it. 

 On motion the Club then adjourned to 9 a.m. on Thursday. 



The Club met on Thursday morning pursuant to adjournment, Mr. Fleteher in 

 the chair, and proceeded to discuss the entomological matters touched upon in the Presi- 

 dent's address. 



In reply to a query from Mr. Howard, Mr. Fletcher said he never bred any 

 parasites from Nematus erichsonii, though he had bred thousands of this species. Mr. 

 Howard said he was especially interested to learn, because a few years ago Dr. Packard 

 described a Pteromalus parasitic on this insect which had since proved to be the same as 

 a European parasite. 



