84 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



1 8. Descriptions, and if possible, figures of such mechanical con- 

 trivances as have proved useful in your locality for the destruction of 

 either the young or the winged insects. 



19. If your section was not visited in 1876, please state this fact. 



20. If visited any previous year, please give the dates. 



21. To what extent have birds, domestic fowls, and other animals, 

 domestic or wild, been useful in destroying these insects ? 



As the successful prosecution of this work is as deeply important to 

 the western portions of our Dominion (where immense damage is often 

 inflicted by this destructive foe) as to any part of the United States, it is 

 hoped that our Government will render all possible aid to the work of this 

 Commission, either by instructions to parties engaged in surveys and other 

 Government work in the western regions, to make the necessary obser- 

 vations, or otherwise by appointing suitable co-operating agencies to aid 

 in the work. 



NOTES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW MOTHS. 



BY A. R. GROTE, 



Director of the Museum, Buffalo Society Natural Sciences. 



Every student knows how much depends on the careful handling and 

 perfect condition of sjiecimens of moths for the cabinet. Especially in 

 the Noctuce, where the scale tufts on the body are used for generic char- 

 acters, is it necessary to have well preserved material in order to give a 

 definite determination. In this respect the collections of Prof. Lintner, 

 Mr. Hill, Dr. Bailey and (though last by no means least) Mr. Otto Von 

 Meske are to be very highly praised. The students of Albany have shown 

 themselves excellent collectors, and it is a great pleasure to examine their 

 specimens. I do not say that Mr. Von Meske's collection is the best in 

 •the country in this resiiect, but I do say that it is the best I have yet 

 seen. Sugaring for Noctuie in April and May has been found very 

 remunerative in the vicinity of Albany. Beautiful specimens of Lithophanc 

 pexata, fagi/ia, BctJiuiici^ disposita, tepida and Thaxteri have been taken in 



