the Dominion of Canada who are in the habit of publishing the results of their observa- 

 tions and studies. The last volume of the Canadian Entomologist presents a list of 

 forty-five contributors ; and Mr. Scudder, in his review of the work done during the year 

 1877, to which reference has been made, gives an account of the publications of forty-one 

 writers, seven of whom have discussed injurious insects only. We wish that this latter 

 number had been much larger. 



A marked improvement has been shown in the number, extent and character of 

 Entomological collections, both in public institutions and private hands. It is most 

 earnestly to be hoped that the growing appreciation of the value of these collections may 

 demand and ensure their proper care and future preservation. To this end it is very 

 important that each individual possessing a valuable private collection (and there are now 

 a respectable number distributed through the several States which contain 5,000 examples) 

 should make such arrangements for its disposition and preservation after his decease as 

 may, within a reasonable extent, ensure its perpetuity. The authoritative statement which 

 has been made that the extremely valuable collections of Drs. LeConte and Horn will at 

 some future day be added to the collection which the ability and zeal of Dr. Hagen has 

 built up at the Cambridge Museum, is highly gratifying intelligence. And in this con- 

 nexioUj let me endeavour to impress upon each one of you the service which you may 

 render to science by availing yourself of every opportunity to urge upon those who have 

 voice in the erection of buildings devoted to scientific collections, that a primary con- 

 sideration be that they be made fire-proof. 



The literature of our science has already become quite respectable, and its collection 

 on our shelves forms no inconsiderable a library. The eleven volumes of the American 

 Entomological Society represent a large amount of earnest and thorough work. The nine 

 volumes of the Canadian Entomologist are replete with interest and instruction. The 

 numerous papers scattered through the pages of the Reports of the Peabody Academy of 

 Science, Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Annals of the Lyceum of 

 Natural History of New York, Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural 

 Science, Bulletin of the Buff'alo Society of Natural Science, Proceedings of the California 

 Academy of Natural Science, and others, fully illustrate the earnestness with which Ento- 

 mological study is being prosecuted, and give large promise of a brilliant future. The 

 exquisite illustrations of the Butterflies of North America" are a credit to our country, 

 being fully equal to the best work of the class in Europe. The publications of LeConte 

 have given him high place among the honoured names of the fathers of American Ento- 

 mology, while the writings of Hagen, Grote, Scudder, Packard, Horn, Cresson, and 

 Uhler, represent no inconsiderable portion of the progress upon which we are congratulat- 

 ing ourselves. Nor can I omit reference to our European friends — to Loew, Osten Sacken, 

 de Saussure, Speyer, Zeller, Moeschler, Butler, and others, who are freely lending us their 

 valued aid in the descriptions of forms too numerous for our few hands, and in the solu- 

 tion of problems which require for their determination the study of the entiie insect 

 fauna of the eastern hemisphere in connection with our own. 



The most gratifying feature, perhaps in the report of progress which I am able to pre- 

 sent to you, is the aid which the General Government is now extending to Entomo- 

 logical explorations and investigations, in placing scientists in tlie field and in the publi- 

 cation of their results. Two years ago, the occupant of this chair felt called upon to express 

 to you his sorrow, disappointment, indignation, that Congress had declined to accede to 

 the memorials presented it, asking its recognition and acceptance of the service which 

 applied Entomology was in a condition ,to render. Now, it is a cause of congratula- 

 tion that the Department of Agriculture has selected as its Entomologist one whose 

 training in the school of economic Entomology for the past ten years has specially quali- 

 fied him for the responsible position he occupies ; and we have the additional gratifying 

 assurance that the Secretary of the Department is in full sympathy with our aims. 



In conformity with a precedent long since established in Europe, our Government 

 has honoured itself while honouring science, in seeking to add to the productiv^e wealth 

 of the country through a control of the insect depredations inflicted upon our people, to 

 the extent of enormous annual losses, and at times, poverty and starvation. The two 

 special Commissions which have been already appointed, it is understood are, ere long, 

 to be followed by others. The published results of one year's labour of the Locust Com- 



