256 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mr. Lintnei" stated that Say's description of Bruchus obsoletics was 

 very general, and Dr. Horn only claimed that the description " fits the 

 species fairly well." In deference to the opinion of some of our coleop- 

 terists who thought that the name obsoletus should be retained, Mr. 

 Lintner had used this name in his seventh report. Mr. Lintner also stated 

 that he considered the species a native of Europe or Asia, probably the 

 latter. 



Mr. Schwarz thought that Say was not always correct in regard to the 

 food plants upon which he states insects are found. 



Mr. Smith thought that descriptions which fit even fairly well must be 

 accepted, for if this was not done about ninety five per cent, of the 

 descriptions of Lepidoptera by Walker would have to be thrown out. 



Mr. Fletcher stated that when young larvse were in peas, the radicle 

 would be the first point attacked. It had been his experience that only 

 from two to five per cent, of attacked peas germinated. 



Mr. Lintner stated that those which germinated and gave vigorous 

 plants had but few pods, and these but few beans. One point of interest 

 was that obsoletus is not found in Canada except when directly brought in. 



Mr. Webster then introduced Dr. Edward Murphy, of New Harmony, 

 Ind., who gave the Club an interesting account of the life of the pioneer 

 of American Entomology, Mr. Thomas Say. Dr. Murphy was intimately 

 acquainted with Mr. Say from 1827 to the time of his death in 1834. 

 " In boyhood Mr. Say was a great collector of all sorts of natural history 

 specimens. He was the most perfect gentleman that I ever met in my 

 life, and I do not believe that he had an enemy in the world. He was 

 tall, about six feet in height, square built, but not fleshy. In winter he 

 wore a thick buckskin overcoat. He had a peculiar lisp in his speech 

 which was pleasant to hear. As a boy I worked in a printing office where 

 some of his works were published. Mr. Say was a very pleasant story 

 teller, and very studious. The colour of his eyes was gray. He always 

 lived in a very plain manner, and his old home is still standing at New 

 Harmony, and in fair repair. His wife often accompanied him on his 

 collecting trips. She was a very pleasant lady. Mr. Say was induced to 

 come to New Harmony by Mr. Maclure, an amateur naturalist." 



Mr. Hubbard then read the following paper : — 



