16 



Hagen, E. C. Howe, D. S. Kellicott, J. L. LeConte, B. P. Mann, T. L. Mead, C. V. 

 Riley, W. Saunders, C. G. Siewers, Emma A. Smith, F. H. Snow, C. E. Webster, 0. 

 S. Weetcott, C. E. Worthington, and G. D. Zimmerman — a quite incomplete list of the 

 contributors to this department. 



Results of anatomical studies of insects have been published by Messrs. C. F. 

 Gissler, J. D. Hyatt, E. L. Mark, and C. V. Riley. - 



It would be inexcusable in a notice of biological work to omit reference to what is 

 being done in this direction at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge. 

 Under the hand of the eminent Curator of the Entomological Department, Dr. H. A. 

 Hagen, a biological collection of insects has been brought together that is far in advance 

 of any similar collection in the world. It was my privilege recently to give it a partial 

 examination, and when I say that I know not how to express my high estimation of it, 

 I give it but imperfect praise. No one, whose studies have prepared him for the appre- 

 ciation of such a collection, can examine it without wondering when, where and how 

 the material was obtained. As an illustration of the natural history of species in their 

 several stages, architecture, depredations, food-plants, diseases, parasites, etc., it is 

 difficult to see how its plan of arrangement can be improved. In consideration of its 

 high value, it is very gratifying to see that such unusual means have been resorted to 

 for its preservation, as, with a reasonable supervision and without the operation of 

 other than the ordinary causes of destruction, will extend its benefits to our successors 

 in coming centuries. In addition to the biological collection, two others have been 

 arranged : the one comprising the insects of North America, and the other those of the 

 world. Of the number of type specimens contained in these collections, there is not 

 the time at present, nor is it the occasion, for more than simple mention. The student 

 in American Entomology, who aims to be fully abreast of the most advanced progress 

 in his line of study, cannot neglect the means of information which the Collections and 

 Library of the Entomological Department at the Cambridge Museum offer him. 



The published results of economic investigations during the year have been quite 

 limited. In consideration of the exceeding importance of these studies, it is painful to 

 have to record the fact of the issue of but one Annual Report of a State Entomologist 

 — that of Cyrus Thomas. This second report of Dr. Thomas, forming the seventh in 

 the series of the Illinois reports, is a volume of nearly 300 pages. In it Dr. Thomas 

 discusses the depredations of some of the Orthoptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera. 

 Prof. G. H. French, Assistant Entomologist, presents brief descriptions of a large 

 number of diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera and their larvae, with notices of their 

 habits, accompanied by analytical tables for their identification. Miss Emma A. 

 Smith, special Assistant Entomologist, offers the results of original investigations in 

 some species of special economic importance. The publication of this and the preced- 

 ing Report, without, as is evident, the opportunity of the revision and correction of 

 proof by the authors, is much to be regretted, as serious errors in the nomenclature 

 and elsewhere have thereby been given extensive circulation. 



The Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario, making the ninth in 

 the series, contains its usual amount of matter of interest to the Entomologist, and of 

 value to the agriculturist and horticulturist. 



Several articles treating of insect depredations have appeared in our scientific 

 j ournals, which cannot now be referred to. 



The United States Entomological Commission, continued by an appropriation by 

 the last Congress of 810,000, is actively engaged in its second year's operations. In 

 its investigations of the Rocky Mountain Locust, its labours have been almost entirely 

 confined to that portion of country designated as the Permanent region, with a view of 

 determining the limits of these permanent breeding grounds, and to obtain the requisite 

 data for the preparation of a map, and a scheme to be recommended to the Govern- 

 ment, by which the excessive multiplication of the species in that region, and the 

 consequent migration therefrom, may be prevented. It is understood that the recom- 

 mendation to the Government will be, that in connection with the authorities in British 

 America, efforts be made to restrain the extensive prairie fires in autumn which are 

 common to that region, and subsequently to burn them in the spring after the hatching 



