Annual Report of the Consulting Entomologist for 1885. 315 
In the present year I have written more than 400 letters 
entirely relating to farm attacks in Great Britain and Ireland 
(I did not begin to keep an exact account until the 10th of April, 
therefore cannot state the number precisely). There has been 
also a very large amount of correspondence on allied subjects 
(especially regarding means of obtaining instruction or informa- 
tion), and also communications with public bodies. 
I may especially mention, that by desire of the Committee of 
Council on Education, I have undertaken to superintend (as far 
as my other duties allow) the rearrangement of a portion of the 
valuable collection illustrative of injurious insects and their 
ravages, known as the " Collection of Economic Entomology" 
at South Kensington, with the view of making it of practical 
service to farmers and all interested in the matter. By placing 
the pests of the various crops, cattle, &c., respectively together, 
in cases distinguished by the English name of the crop or 
animal attacked, I believe the large collection will become of 
great public service, and I may add that a portion of the rest of 
the work is in the skilled hands of Professor Westwood. 
In regard to British possessions there has been much Colonial 
correspondence. At present, considerations have been set on 
foot regarding the collection of information relating to some crop 
pests of India, about which I submit a part of the correspondence 
which has been published by the dliection of the Secretary of 
State for India. Also at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, work is 
in progress regarding the crop pests of that district of Cape 
Colony. The collection of specimens and information upon 
them are to be forwarded to myself for illustration and pub- 
lication. 
I am also in business communication with the Entomologist 
of the Department of Agriculture of Canada, and there has 
also been correspondence with other British Colonies, and with 
the Entomologists of the United States, &c., &c. 
I should like to be permitted most respectfully to suggest that 
the public service is suffering much from the need of more 
workers or available referees, who have a knowledge of the 
requirements of the farm treatment, as well as of the names, and 
in some degree of the habits, of crop and cattle insects. 
