165 
species from this locality, of which fully fifty are described as new species. 
The Proctotrypids form a family of more than ordinary interest, because 
all the members of it are parasites. Many of them infest the eggs of 
various orders of insects, and thus destroy many injurious forms ; others 
live upon the larvae of small diptera, etc., and one sub-family particularly 
infests certain small Homoptera. Notwithstanding the small size of 
these insects (many being very minute) they exhibit numerous and 
interesting modifications of structure, and afford in general good char- 
acters for the separation of the numerous genera. The American species 
now known, chiefly through the labours of Mr. Ashmead, are about six 
hundred in number, placed in about one hundred and fifty genera and 
grouped in ten sub-families. In Canada but little attention has been 
given to the collection of these minute forms and but few species are 
recorded other than those furnished by Ottawa. Many of the smaller 
species hibernate in moss and can most easily be secured by sifting such 
material obtained ftom swampy localities. A bag of moss obtained in 
bow's Swamp on Thanksgiving Day, the sifting of which was completed 
recently, yielded quite a iarge number of specimens, including several 
of the very small Bans minutus. It is our intention to prepare a list of 
the Ottawa species for a future issue. Mr. Ashmead has much enhanced 
the value of his magnificent work by eighteen plates in which the 
anatomy of typical species, and the various genera are illustrated by 
nearly one hundred and fifty beautifully drawn figures. The prepara. 
tion of these plates and of the voluminous text have required skilful 
and patient labours which can be best appreciated by students who 
have themselves attempted the collection, classification and description 
of similar micro-organisms ; labours which have their reward chiefly in 
the assurance of more accurate knowledge acquired and distributed 
during the years of their faithful performance. Ed. 
EDITORIAL NOTES. 
Soiree No. i On December 12th our talented President, Dr. 
Dawson, delivered a most interesting Inaugural Address, which we have 
the pleasure of presenting to our readers in this number. A valuable 
