Seventh. On Monday, the 20th February, the subject of entc- 

 mology was again discussed by Mr. Harrington. After briefly consiil- 

 ering the position of insects in the general plan of animal life, he 

 explained why certain corarnon iasects, such as a butterfly, grasshopper 

 etc., were placed in certain orders. The habits of certain species, as 

 Coryd'diis cornutus, the ant-lions (Myrraeleon), Bdastoma Americana, 

 etc., were mentioned, after which an outline was given of the order 

 Ilymenoptera, which has been specially studied by Mr. Harrington for 

 several years. The bees, wasps, ants, ichneumons, sawflies and other 

 principal groups received tuch brief explanation as the limited timti 

 permitted. Allusion was made to the great number of species which 

 occur in the neighbourhood of Ottawa, and to the want of a greater 

 number of entomological students to work up the various orders, several 

 of which have been yet untoached. Several diagi/ams, giving the struc- 

 ture of a bee, the nervous system, etc., were shown. An interesting 

 discussion followed, in which the necessity of the Club having a typical 

 local collection was strongly urged by Prof. Macoun. Among other 

 speakers were Messrs. Ballantyne, Whyte, Ami, Stewart and Fletcher. 



Eighth. On Monday, the 27th February, the President, Mr. R. 

 B. Whyte, gave a very interesting address on the growth of plants, and 

 the importance of the functions exercised by them as regards tha 

 welfare of mankind. After briefly considering the various parts of the 

 plant essential to its growth, he showed how it was able to subsist on 

 inorganic matter, and to lay up a store of food suitable for the support 

 of animal life. The atmosi)herft was continually being purified by the 

 decomposition by plants of the carbonic acid gas, and the carbon thus 

 laid up served as fuel for man. Thus man was indebted to plant life 

 for his fuel, his food and much of his clothing, while the plants were 

 useful to him also in a great variety ot ways. The reproductive organs, 

 or flowers, were then briefly examined, after which some valuable 

 information was given as to the best methods of studying botany. An 

 interesting discussion followed, in which Prof. Macoun, Mr. Ami, Mr. 

 Ballantyne and others participated. 



Ninth On Monday, the 5th March, Prof. Macoun treated in a 

 very plain and instructive way of mosses, using that term in its wider 



