THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 



It is well known that the seeds of certain noxious weeds will some- 

 times lie dormant in the soil for almost any number of years, awaiting a 

 favorable opportunity for germinating ; but it is not so generally known 

 that the development of insect life is sometimes similarly retarded. It 

 has many times been observed that a few individuals out of a large brood 

 of moths will remain in the chrysalis state over one season and produce 

 the perfect insect the following year, thus remaining a full year more in 

 the dormant condition than is usual, and instances are on record where 

 the perfect insects have escaped after three years spent in this condition 

 of torpor. Recently, Prof. Riley, of Washington, has called attention to 

 a very remarkable case of retarded development in the eggs of the 

 destructive Rocky Mountam Locust, Caloptemis spretus. These eggs were 

 laid in 1876 on the grounds of the Agricultural College at Manhattan, 

 Kansas. While grading the ground around the chemical laboratory in the 

 autumn a quantity of the eggs were buried some ten inches below the 

 surface, the covering material being clay, old mortar and bits of stone, 

 and above this a plank sidewalk. On removing and regrading the soil 

 last spring a number of these eggs were disinterred quite sound and fresh- 

 looking, and when exposed to normal influences they readily hatched, so 

 that these locusts' eggs actually remained nearly four years and a half in 

 the ground unhatched, or four years longer than is their wont. How 

 much longer they would have retained their vitality under favorable con- 

 ditions of temperature and dryness is unknown. This point has a very 

 practical bearing and deserves further investigation, not only in reference 

 to the eggs of this insect, but to those of all injurious species whose eggs 

 are deposited on or under the ground. 



The Sub-Section of Entomology of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science met this year at Cincinnati, Ohio, where I had 

 the honor of representing our Society. A large number of distinguished 

 Entomologists were present, and many useful pa[)ers read and discussions 

 held at the meetings. An account of the proceedings will appear in our 

 Annual Report. It having been decided to hold the next meeting of the 

 American Association in Montreal, I trust that our representative men in 

 all departments of science will be present to greet with a hearty welcome 

 the distinguished scientists from the United States and abroad, who will 

 on that occasion honor the Dominion with their presence. I have strong 

 hopes that the Entomologists of Canada will turn out in good force. 



If the progress of a science is to be indicated by its literature and the 



