THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 227 



Mr. Fletcher had observed tlie insect when visiting Mr. Howard at 

 Washington, D. C, who had described to him its remarkable habit of 

 capturing the Croton-bug by springing over it and thus encaging it beneath 

 its many curved legs. He was of the opinion that those who had failed 

 to keep this insect in captivity had done so from omitting to supply a 

 sufficiency of moisture, and thought that Mr. Hargitt's success in the 

 instance mentioned, where the insect was put in a tin can, was more due to 

 this cause than to the darkness. Myriapods are generally found in damp, 

 dark places. 



The Club proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year. Prof. 

 Cook, the retiring President, congratulated the members upon the 

 harmony which had existed throughout the sessions, and was glad to find 

 that, although some old and pessimistic members of the Club had pre- 

 dicted that it had run its course and would soon fficker out like a spent 

 candle, he was glad to find that the present meetings had not only been 

 the best attended for many years, but that the discussions and papers 

 had been equally interesting to those of any meeting which he had had 

 the pleasure of taking part in. He wished the Club every success and 

 trusted that it would grow stronger and stronger every year. The follow- 

 ing officers were elected : —  



President, Prof Herbert Osborn, Ames, Iowa. 



Vice-President, Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt, St. Louis, Mo. 



Secretary, Dr. C. M. Weed, Columbus, Ohio. 



Prof Osborn, at the invitation of the President, introduced the subject 

 of the use of contagious diseases in combating injurious insects. He said 

 that he had already published a paper in the Transactions of the Eastern 

 Iowa Horticultural Society for 1886, pp. 400-405, upon this subject; but 

 that it was of such importance that he desired to hear it discussed by the 

 members of the Club. He first mentioned the well-known fungous and 

 bacterial diseases which attack insects, as Muscadine, Grassen or Jaun- 

 dice, Pebrine, Flacherie or Flaccidity, Foul-brood of Bees, Fly and 

 Grasshopper Fungus, and the White-grub Fungus, and called attention to 

 the fact that we were already able to control those which affect important 

 domestic species, as Silkworms and Bees, and that to some extent at 

 least we are able to control those available as agents in destroying 



