Section 2.— Systematic and Biologic Entomology. 



This section of the exhibit is illustrative of the national collection, 

 which is under my charge as honorary curator of the Department of 

 Insects. It consists of a series of drawers representing samples of the 

 systematic collection in different orders, and also of sample drawers of 

 the biologic series, systematically arranged, representing the full life- 

 history of the species which have been studied, whether of economic 

 importance or not, and these will be interesting more especially to the 

 student or professional entomologist. T>ese are exhibited not as com- 

 plete series, but as samples taken from the actual collection to illus- 

 trate the methods employed in the arrangement of the regular system- 

 atic and biologic series, and also to give the visiting entomologist an 

 insight into the present status of the national collection. With this 

 section is included the showy exhibit of insects chiefly from South 

 America, referred to in the introductory paragraph; also the special 

 exhibit of the Golden Eod with the insects which affect or frequent it. 



Section 3. — Silk Insects. 



This section includes a biologic exhibit, in some cases with specimens 

 of the raw silk, of the more important native and foreign Lepidop- 

 tera, the larvie of which spin silken cocoons, and which are or may 

 be of value as commercial sources of silk. 



Section 4. — Professional Exhibit. 



What has been thus denominated is an exhibit of the apparatus used by 

 the professional or the amateur entomologist in the collecting of insects 

 and in their mounting, rearing, and preservation. This includes a lull 

 display of all the ordinary apparatus used for these purposes, of chief 

 interest among which will be the series of different devices and methods 

 for rearing insects, comprising a large variety of cages or vivaria, and 

 breeding-jars of all sorts. Many of these are fitted with wax plants 

 and insects, showing the exact methods followed in the work of the 

 Division. This section gives a complete illustration of the implements, 

 apparatus, and methods of work of the practical entomologist. 



Section 5. — Insecticides. 



This section comprises insecticide preparations which have proved 

 of value in the work of the entomologist in the prevention or de- 

 struction of injurious insects. To make the exhibit as complete as 

 possible some of the more valuable of the patented articles have also 

 been included. The first part of the exhibit includes the important in- 

 secticides not covered by patents, some eighty samples being shown, of 

 which a dozen or so are of supreme importance and fulfill all ordinary 

 needs, the others being of only occasional value. The proprietary and 



