208 



to set forth facts, even those relating to the most common and best 

 known species, without the indications to which I have referred. The 

 tendeuc;y belittles our calling and is generally misleading and confus- 

 ing, especially for bibliographic work, and can not be too strongly dep- 

 recated. 



On this point there will hardly be any difference of opinion; but I 

 will allude to another question of credit upon which there prevails a 

 good deal of loose opinion and custom. It is the habit of using illustra- 

 tions of other authors without any indication of their original source. 

 This is an equally vicious custom and one to be condemned, though I 

 know that some have fallen into the habit without appreciation of its 

 evil effect. It is, in my judgment, almost as blameworthy as to use the 

 language or the facts of another without citing the authority. Every 

 member of this Association who has due appreciation of the time and 

 labor and special knowledge required to produce a good and true illus- 

 tration of the transformations and chief characteristics of an insect 

 will appreciate this criticism. However pardonable in fugitive news- 

 paper articles in respect of cuts which, from repeated use, have become 

 common, or which have no individuality, the habit inevitably gives a 

 certain spurious character to more serious and official publications ; for 

 assumption of originality, whether intended or not, goes with uncred- 

 ited matter, whether of text or figure. Nor is mere acknowledgment 

 of loan or purchase, to the publisher, institution, or individual who may 

 own the block or stone what I refer to ; but that acknowledgement to 

 the author of the figure or to the work in which it first appears which 

 is part of conscientious writing, and often a valuable index as to the 

 reliability of the figure. 



It were supererogation to point out to a body of this kind the value of 

 the most careful and thorough work in connection with life-histories and 

 habits often involving, as it does, much microscopic study of structure. 

 The officers of our institutions who control the funds, and more or less 

 fully our conduct, are apt to be somewhat impatient and inappreciative 

 of the time given to anatomic work, and where it is given for the pur- 

 pose of describing species and of synopsising or monographing higher 

 groups, without reference to agriculture, I am firmly of the belief that 

 it diverts one from economic work ; but where pursued for a definite 

 economic purpose it can not be too careful or too thorough, and I know 

 of no instances better calculated to appeal to and modify the views of 

 those inclined to belittle such structural study than Phylloxera and 

 leery a. On the careful comparison of the European and American speci- 

 mens of Phylloxera vastatrix, involving the most minute structures and 

 details, depended originally those important economic questions which 

 have resulted in legislation by many different nations and the regenera- 

 tion of the affected vineyards of Europe, of our own Pacific coast, and 

 of other parts of the world by the use of American resistant stocks. In 

 the case of Icerya purchasi the possibilities of success in checking it by its 



