1881, ] Sctentific News. 7 681 
besides a salaried entomologist, it must be conceded that Illinois 
is leading all the States in the Union in biological work well cal- 
culated to elevate, educate and inform the masses. Professor 
Forbes’ able contributions, as well as those of his assistants, have 
from time to time been noticed in this journal. He is now carry- 
ing on the field work, the State being divided into four or five 
regions. In the appropriation bill passed for the coming year, 
special provision is made for field work in zodlogy, for. field 
work in botany, for the supply of series of the plants and animals 
of the State, to the State Museum, the State educational institu- 
tions and the public high schools, for the investigation of the food 
of birds, of the food of fishes and of the parasitic plants and ani- 
mals of the State, for the improvement of the library and for the 
publication of bulletins of original work. The laboratory has 
accumulated the largest collection of fungi in the Western States, 
the collection embracing 550 species of Illinois, 1000 United 
States species and 1500 species foreign fungi. 
ur readers will see that these subjects are so distributed as to 
cover directly and indirectly nearly the whole field of the natural 
history of Illinois, 
— The Zodlogical Society of London has, we learn from Na- 
ture, established an insectarium, or series of rooms for rearing in- 
sects in captivity. The building for this purpose is constructed 
of iron and glass on three sides, with a brick back to it; the cases 
Containing the insects are arranged on stands all round the build- 
ing, and also occupy two tables in the center. The cases used 
for the Principal specimens are formed of zinc plates. The upper 
Part of these is glazed on all four sides, the top being formed of 
perforated zinc, so as to admit the air. The larger cases in the 
front row measure about 24 inches in breadth by 18 in depth, and 
are 32 inches in height. The cases in the opposite row are of 
similar construction, but rather smaller in dimensions. The whole 
Series of insects already on exhibition last spring comprised about 
@pplied in part for museum and library purposes. At Brown 
University, Mr. W. W. Bailey has been appointed Olney professor 
VOL. x az 
