October, '15] 



CURRENT NOTES 



503 



were written under the stimulus of specialization compelled by cli- 

 matic and other conditions. It is not too much to suppose that the 

 excellent work of earlier years has been continued and in due time 

 will result in additional contributions of both scientific and practical 

 value. The pages may not all be as optimistic as those alluded to 

 above, nevertheless they may contain much of great importance and 

 contribute materially to the welfare of the nation. There are many 

 specialities in the far West, controlled by men of keen intellect, and 

 he w^ho fails to keep an eye on his brother of the Pacific Slope should 

 not complain if he falls behind in the race. 



'Obituary 



JOSEPH TARRIGAN MONELL 



Joseph Tarrigan Monell, prominent aphidologist and mining 

 engineer, died at his home in St. Louis, Mo., May 9, 1915. He was 

 born in St. Louis September 15, 1859, was educated at Smith's Acad- 

 emy and Washington University, from which latter institution he 

 received the degree of mining engineer in 1881. Although his vocation 

 w^as that of mining engineer, a profession which he practiced success- 

 fully, he was from the age of fourteen an ardent student of nature, 

 more especially entomology and botany and was a volunteer student 

 under Dr. C. V. Riley and under Dr. George Engelmann, the botanist. 

 He was known among entomologists as an authority on the Aphididse, 

 in which group he published several articles, his first contribution 

 being published at the age of seventeen. Although he published 

 nothing after becoming actively engaged in engineering work, he con- 

 tinued his studies and was ever ready and willing to assist others. In 

 his death entomology has sustained an irreparable loss. A widow and 

 three children survive. 



J. J. D. 



Current Notes 



Conducted by the Associate Editor 



Instruction in beekeeping is soon to be given in the College of Agriculture of Cornell 

 University. 



Mr. A. H. Jennings, Bureau of Entomology, will be stationed in New York City, 

 for some time, on mosquito work. 



Dr. W. E. Britton, state entomologist of Connecticut, gave an illustrated lecture 

 at the New York Botanical Garden, August 14, on "Fighting the Gipsy Moth." 



