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ENTOMOLOGICAL ETHICS. 



By T. D. A. Cockerell, las Cruces, X. Mex. 



" What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God for- 

 bid" — Paul, Epistle to the Romans, vi, 15. 



I am aware that a Biblical text is not the customary prelude to a 

 paper presented to tliis association, but the words of Paul are so appro- 

 priate to what follows that no excuse is needed for quoting them. 

 Entomologists in the public service enjoy a large amount of liberty. 

 I think we are all glad that such is the case, and would be, without 

 exception, resentful of any attempt to diminish our freedom. Science 

 must be free — must be allowed to follow the devious path that leads to 

 the summit of the hill of knowledge, even though that path often seem 

 to have no treud in the direction of the distant goal. In the name of 

 science we demand the right to investigate as we will, and publish 

 without hindrance whatever results we obtain. 



It is, however, quite certain that liberty in matters scientific, as in 

 the State, can only be maintaiued when rightly used. He, therefore, 

 who misuses his freedom is an enemy of the whole fraternity, for he 

 threatens its most precious possession. 



I think we need to consider among ourselves what is our precise 

 duty to the United States and to one another. In certain particulars 

 I have observed very diverse practices and very divergent opinions, 

 and it can not well be that these are all correct. 



The entomologists of the experiment stations are all of them custo- 

 dians of more or less extensive and valuable collections of insects. 

 What may they do with these collections? What are their rights in 

 regard to them? 



I have inyself observed the following rules: 



(1) The entomologist has no private ownership of anything in the 

 collections. 



(2) The specimens may be disposed of in' any manner which best 

 furthers the interests of science. This involves the two following rules : 



(a) Specimens, even uniques, may be sent to specialists who will work 

 them up and publish the results. It is, I think, far better to part alto- 

 gether with a rare specimen than to have it remain in the collection 

 unstudied. As others take the same view, it results that the collec- 

 tion acquires from elsewhere corresponding numbers of valuable speci- 

 mens belonging to the groups specially studied by the entomologist. 



(b) Types of new species ultimately go to some central institution, 

 preferably the U. S. National Museum. This is important, because in 

 the long run much trouble is saved to entomologists by having the 

 types all together; and also, because such places as the National 

 Museum offer a far better guaranty of safe- keeping than most, at least, 

 of the agricultural colleges. 



