THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



must have the effect of stimulating intelligent research in this 

 important department of natural science." 



"Within comparati\'ely recent years the l)ount>- of the Go\ern- 

 ment has greatly assisted the operations of this Society. Its 

 periodical publications, ranging over many years, contain a vast 

 amount of original matter, recording valuable observations of a 

 most instructive character on insects in all parts of Canada, These 

 publications have been much sought after, both in Europe and 

 America; some of the earh' numbers ha%c been reprinted in order 

 to meet the demand, and complete sets of the Society's works are 

 now found in many prominent scientific libraries on both conti- 

 nents " 



This quotation from the work of a barrister, who is not partic- 

 ularly interested in natural science, is highly appreciated testimony 

 to the usefulness and \alue of the Society which Professor Croft 

 was largely instrumental in foundng. 



Another Society which owed much in its origin and early 

 years to the fostering care and enthusiastic support of Professor 

 Croft, one of its founders, is the Canadian Institute of Toronto, 

 now b\- warrant of His Majesty King George entitled to the prefix 

 of Royal. Twice Professor Croft was elected President and for a 

 long series of years he was a member of its Council and regular 

 attendant at its meetings. Its periodical, " The Canadian Journal," 

 received many contributions on chemical subjects from his pen. 

 He was not, however, a voluminous writer, and it is much to be 

 regretted that his stores of experience and research were not 

 rendered available to students in a permanent form. His work on 

 Analytical Chemistry for the use of students in Arts and Medicine 

 was long employed as a text-book, and was an evidence of what 

 he might have done in the field of scientific authorship, had he 

 been so inclined. 



In these days of terrible war it is interesting to know that 

 Professor Croft took an active part in the formation of the Cana- 

 dian Volunteer force, which was brought into being during the 

 winter of 1861-62, when there seemed to be imminent danger 

 of an armed conflict between this country and the I'nited States 

 in consequence of the "Trent affair." Professor Croft called a 

 meeting of students and ex-students at the University and excited 



