1929] 
Present Trends in Systematic Entomology 
13 
PRESENT TRENDS IN SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY . 1 
GENERAL DISCUSSION. 
By Charles T. Brues, 
Bussey Institution, Harvard University. 
When I was asked recently to address a group of ento- 
mologists on the present activities in taxonomic entomology, 
I had grave doubts that the tendencies evident in the work 
of this large but frequently despised group of zoologists 
would be of any interest to students of insects in other 
fields, or even to the taxonomists themselves. The latter 
expectation seemed especially probable as systematists have 
become quite callous to derogatory remarks from biologists 
not versed in taxonomy, and have tended to lapse into a 
condition of laissez jaire with reference to the relations of 
taxonomy to the other branches of zoology. Also I can by no 
means lay claim to that broad familiarity with insect taxo- 
nomy which should be expected of one who essays to outline 
its tendencies. Nevertheless there is some advantage in 
viewing such matters after frequent visits into other fields, 
for every return brings a new series of impressions which 
serve to throw into relief the changes that are gradually 
taking place. 
Systematic entomology is growing old, and like a living 
organism it exhibits the usual signs of age in the develop- 
ment of fixed eccentricities of behavior. Fortunately for the 
ultimate progress of biology it has not persisted as a single 
entity, for it has produced during its long lifetime a series 
of distinguished, but not always harmonious offspring. 
These are now so vigorous and some of them so self-satisfied 
that they occasionally betray their disapproval of the 
motives and accomplishments of the other members of the 
family. At the present stage of our science their actions 
would seem to presage a lively future for entomology as 
iThis and the paper that follows were presented as part of a 
symposium at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of 
America in New York City, Dec. 27, 1928. 
