THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Last year, at our annual meeting, I took the opportunity of calling 

 your attention to many fields of Entomological labour that are now all 

 but unexplored in this country. May I repeat that there is ample scope 

 for the exertions of all our members, whether they care only to form 

 collections of specimens, or prefer to devote their labours to the unfolding 

 of the life-histories or the study of the classification of insects ? There 

 is plenty of work remaining to be done even in the favourite orders of 

 Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, to say nothing of the others that are not so 

 generally studied or collected. It would be a valuable contribution to our 

 store of knowledge were lists of the Canadian species of all orders of 

 insects to be formed, and presented to the Society for publication ; and 

 at the same time a revision made of those published some years ago. 



But not only is there scientific work of this kind to be performed, 

 which will require generations for its complete achievement ; there comes 

 before us at the present moment an extraordinary object for accomplish- 

 ment during the approaching winter — I allude to the representation of the 

 Society by means of a collecticn of Canadian insects at the approaching 

 Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. You will all, I think, agree with 

 us in the belief that it is a matter of great importance to the Society that 

 it should be brought in this way before the notice of the world, and that 

 it cannot but be of some benefit to the Dominion that its Natural History, 

 as well as its industrial resources, should be fully exhibited. The Council 

 of the Agricultural and Arts Association have already, on our behalf, 

 brought the matter before the Commissioners appointed by the Govern- 

 ment, and we understand that a sum of money will be provided to aid us 

 in the satisfactory performance of the work. To gather together a fitting 

 collection of insects, and to prepare them for exhibition, is a task that 

 will strain to the utmost all the resources of the Society. We have com- 

 menced the work relying upon the co-operation of you all, and now we 

 trust that every one will help us by the loan of specimens and any other 

 aid that can be afforded. The Society is committed to the task ; let us 

 see to it that there be no failure ! 



Before turning from matters immediately affecting our Society, I may 

 mention that our periodical, The Canadian Entomologist, continues 

 to be maintained with undiminished efficiency and interest, being largely 

 supported and contributed to by our Entomological brethren of the 

 United States ; and that the last Annual Report presented by the 

 Society to the Legislature has been received with more than usual marks 

 of favour by the press, scientific, agricultural and political, not only in 



