THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 153 



9. Brittain, W. H., (1915). Idiocerus fitchi. Proc. N. S. Ent. 

 Soc, p. 38-39. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE IX. 



Idiocertts fitchi.- — Fig. l,egg; figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, first, second, 

 third, fourth and fifth stage nymph; fig. 7, adult. 



THE INSECT COLLECTIONS OF CANADA. I. 



The Collections of the Entomological Society of Ontario. 



by c. j. s. bethune, guelph. 



When the Entomological Society of Ontario was organized 

 in April, 1863, one of the objects set forth in its constitution was 

 the formation of a general collection of insects. During the fol- 

 lowing year the records show that a cabinet of seven drawers was 

 presented by Professor Croft, the President, and nearly 1,700 speci- 

 mens were contributed by seven members. At another meeting 

 held during the same year over 600 specimens, belonging to various 

 orders were added to the collection. An excellent beginning was 

 thus made through the generosity and enthusiasm of the mem- 

 bers. 



In December, 1869, the Society received a grant of $400 for 

 the year 1870, from the Board of Agriculture and Arts Association 

 of Ontario, on condition that it "furnished an Annual Report, 

 formed a cabinet of insects useful and prejudicial to agriculture 

 and horticulture, and continued the publication of the Canadian 

 Entomologist^ In fulfilment of these conditions the first of the 

 Society's Annual Reports was published and a cabinet of insects, 

 arranged from an economic point of view, was prepared and placed 

 in the rooms of the Association in Toronto. What became of this 

 collection the writer has been unable to ascertain. 



Being now possessed of an annual income, the Society made a 

 grant of $75 to the London Branch towards the purchase of a 

 cabinet. With this aid the Branch procured a large, black walnut 

 cabinet containing forty-five drawers and proceeded gradually to 

 fill it with an excellent collection. It now forms part of the So- 

 ciety's property and occupies a place with the rest of our material 

 in the Museum of the Ontario Agricultural College. A cabinet 



May, 1917 



