96 



this time is two methods of building up our collections that are inex- 

 pensive, require little time, and that will tend to bring the working- 

 entomologists into closer fellowship with one another. 



An economic entomologist should be acquainted with the injurious 

 and beneficial insects outside of his own little field of labor. I wonder 

 how many of the stations or colleges there are that can not show a 

 specimen of Melanoplus sjyretus, BJissus leucopterns, Cecidomyia destruc- 

 tor ^ Aspidiotiis perniciosus^ or even Carpocapsa pomonella^if asked by a 

 visitor to do so. There are probably a number of institutions where 

 not one of these common species can be found, and I have serious 

 doubts if there is an agricultural college or experiment station in the 

 country that can show all of them. 



I have a list of over ninetj^ species of insects that have been reported 

 to me as being one of ten of the most injurious species in the different 

 States, and I do not believe there are more than a half dozen institu- 

 tions that can show one-quarter of these pests in their collections. 



Entomologists in States Avhere these insects are abundant could 

 easily collect them in quantity, and then, by a system of exchange, 

 every State could soon have a collection that would well represent the 

 more economic si)ecies of the country. For example, A could send B a 

 list of the species in any order or orders that he has for exchange, and 

 B could return the list with those species checked that he desires, and 

 at the same time inclose a list of what he can offer in return, with the 

 understanding that they will exchange as many species as the one 

 marks who marks least. For my own part I should be glad to exchange 

 in all the orders in this v\'ay, and believe that all could enter into the 

 work with profit. 



The other plan I have to propose is quite diff"erent, but I believe could 

 be entered into with equal profit, and especially by those who have 

 small collections. There are entomologists in the various agricultural 

 institutions, and others outside of them, who are doing special work in 

 every order. Most, if not all, of these would undoubtedly be glad to 

 receive undetermined material in quantity from any locality, with the 

 privilege of retaining uniques and with the understanding that he 

 should return to the sender a determined set of the duplicates. 



In this way specialists would be greatly aided in working up their 

 favorite groups, which will result in a blessing to entomological students 

 in general. The person furnishing the specimens will gradually work 

 up a collection the species in which will be determined by the best 

 authorities, and at the same time will feel that the specimens that were 

 retained by specialists are placed where they will do most good and 

 that he has done something for the advancement of the science that he 

 loves. 



We have done a good deal of this kind of work at Fort Collins, and 

 with very satisfactory results. Quite a number of species are lost to us 

 in the hands of si:)ecialists until we can find duplicates, but that is where 

 they belong. We have the records and our boxes are relieved of a great 



