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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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The recommendations as to procedure, etc., made by the Sub-Committee, were approved, subject to the following amendments and additions:---

(1) The Director to arrange as soon as possible for Chairmen to preside at meetings, the same chairman presiding in the afternoon as in the morning on days when there are meetings both in the morning and

afternoon.

As regards the opening and the final meetings, on the 1st and 11th June, Viscount Harcourt agreed to take the chair.

(ii) In addition to the gentlemen mentioned by the Sub-Committee for special invitations to particular meetings, the Director to send invitations to Sir Henry Birchenough, as Chairman of the Empire Cotton Growing Committee, and to representatives of commercial associations, namely, the West India Committee, and those interested in cotton, coffee, cocoa, tea, rubber, sugar, and fruit.

(iii.) A verbatim report of the business meetings to be taken; and an abbreviated report of the meetings for papers and discussions to be prepared by a member of the clerical staff of the Bureau.

(iv) The railway fares of delegates and others visiting Rothamsted, Oxford, and Cambridge to be paid, as suggested by the Sub-Committee, but not railway fares for those going to Edinburgh after the Conference; and, provision for lunch at Rothamsted, and for the entertainment of those visiting Oxford and Cambridge to be made in the same way.

(v.) An announcement of the Conference to be made in the Press, and Press representatives to be invited to attend meetings.

(vi.) A statement of the work of the Bureau to be inserted in The Times. Sir A. Shipley undertook to arrange for this to be done.

5. Dr. MacDougall stated that some of the delegates would, no doubt, wish

to visit Scotland after the Conference, and that he would be very glad to arrange for the accommodation of a limited number in Edinburgh for two or three nights, and for visits and excursions to places of scientific or general interest.

Viscount Harcourt stated that he would refer to this invitation when opening the Conference, so that delegates desiring to avail themselves of it could at once communicate with Dr. MacDougall.

6. As regards the official dinner, Viscount Harcourt informed the Committee that he expected that the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be present.

The following arrangements were agreed to:-

(i.) The Colonial Office to ascertain, through the Private Secretary, whether the dinner would be provided from the Government Hospitality Fund.

(ii.) The dinner to be held, if possible, at the London Museum, (iii) Small tables for six persons to be used.

(iv) Two speeches only; one proposing the health of the visitors and the other the reply on behalf of the visitors.

(v.) Distinguished scientific men to the number of about twenty (other than delegates to the Conference) to be invited, also the High Commissioners and Agents-General; the Hon. W. A. Watt, Treasurer to the Commonwealth of Australia, and General Gorgas, if in England at the time.

7. It was suggested that enquiry should be made as to whether two tables could be reserved in the Grill Room of the Piccadilly Hotel for members of the Conference who might wish to lunch there on days when meetings are held.

8. The Director presented his annual report on the work and finances of the Bureau.*

He called attention to the fact that in September, 1921, the lease of the premises occupied in Queen's Gate will expire, and that other accommodation (about eight rooms being required in all) must be found in the neighbourhood of the Natural History Museum. The Committee agreed that if there was no probability of securing accommodation with the Entomological Society, enquiries must be started in other directions next September.

The financial position was explained by the Director; he emphasized the fact that the Bureau had to carry on the same work as before the War with practically no increase in income to counterbalance the greatly increased cost of staff, paper,

* Annexure 1.

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printing, etc., and that as it was now necessary to draw on the reserve fund to meet current expenditure, the Bureau would have to close down in about two years if additional income is not received.

The Director stated that Dr. A. T. Stanton's report on his Stegomyia investi- gation had been published. He reminded the Committee that the Indian Govern- ment was much interested in this subject, and he asked the Committee to consider the question of taking action in regard to further investigations.

În view of the financial position of the Bureau, the Committee did not see their way to authorize any immediate programme, but expressed their readiness to conduct further investigations as soon as the finances of the Bureau are placed on a more satisfactory footing. Sir H. Read suggested that it might be useful if the Director were to get into touch with the American Yellow Fever Commission now on its way to this country.

9. A report from the Finance Sub-Committee was received, and the action taken by the Sub-Committee approved. (Copy of report attached.)

The Director stated that Captain Waterston had not yet actually been trans- ferred to the Museum staff, but the Committee authorized the retention of Captain Bushell's services temporarily for work in the Publication Office, the question of his retention permanently in that office being reserved until the future financial position of the Bureau was settled.

22064

Annexure 1.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE arrangements for the Entomological Conference on the 1st June next are already well advanced, and it is anticipated that in addition to Dr. L. (). Howard, of Washington, nineteen delegates will attend, the Governments repre- sented being:-Canada, Australian Commonwealth, Queensland, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Gold Coast, Egypt, Sudan, British East Africa, Uganda, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Mauritius, Ceylon, Federated Malay States. British Guiana, Trinidad and Barbados. On the suggestion of Sir David Prain, the Secretary of State for the Colonies approached the Council of the Linnean Society with a view to securing the use of their rooms in Burlington House for the meetings of the Conference, and the Council have kindly agreed to this, except as regards the afternoon of the 3rd June, when a meeting of the Society takes place.

Collections of Insects.-The number of insects received during the past twelve months shows a very marked increase over those recorded in the last two Annual Reports, and in the following details the corresponding numbers for the preceding year are given in brackets for comparison. The collections received amounted to 169 (140), and these were sent by 74 (49) different correspondents, distributed as follows:-Africa, 31; Asia, 15; Europe, 15; Tropical America, 7; Autralasia, 6. The collections contained over 30,000 (16,000) specimens, of which 4,700 (4,000) were blood-suckers. During the year 79 (65) lists of identifications were issued, com- prising 2,057 (1,205) specific names.

Of named blood-sucking insects, or species of agricultural importance, 2,270 (4,995) were presented to the following institutions:-Australian Museum, Syd- ney, 896; Edinburgh University, 23; London School of Tropical Medicine, 29; South Western Polytechnic Institute, Chelsea, 223; War Office Entomological The insects presented to the British Museum totalled 8,066 Laboratory, 1,099. (7,300); of these 78 (39) were types of species new to science, and among the remainder were 132 (62) named species not previously represented in the Museum Collection.

Finance.-In Appendix I. will be found a statement of the monies actually Owing to the payment of the received or expended within the financial year. arrears due for the Carnegie Fund, the receipts for interest are considerably As usual, the payments debited to the two higher than for any previous year. publications bear no relation to the parts issued during the period, but refer to expenditure during fifteen months up to the 31st March, 1919. The cost of keep- ing up the Queen's Gate office was actually £75 less than the amount shown, as this includes six quarters' rent instead of four. The cost of the library has gone up by about £30, owing to the larger number of volumes requiring binding, the increased cost of binding, and expenditure on back volumes of periodicals that could not be obtained during the War. The amount under Office Furniture was

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