C|e dtkabian Entomologist. 



VOL. XL 



LONDON, ONT., DECEMBER, 1879. 



No. 1 2 



ENTOMOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



It is intended that in the forthcoming volume of the Canadian Ento- 

 mologist each number shall contain at least one paper addressed especially 

 to beginners in Entomology. Our esteemed coadjutor, Mr. Jas. Fletcher, 

 of Ottawa, has kindly offered to assist in this undertaking, and we hope that 

 other able hands will render all the aid they can. We want in this way 

 and by the aid of illustrations to make the Entomologist more inter- 

 esting to the general public and especially to the young, as well as to 

 agriculturists, and we trust that this can in some measure be accomplished 

 without interfering with its value as a scientific journal and a medium of 

 communication among advanced Entomologists. It is to the young that 

 we must mainly look for recruits to fill the vacancies which time will make 

 in the Entomological ranks, and if by any means we can induce some of 

 our young friends to devote their leisure hours to Entomological studies 



we shall be abundantly rewarded for our efforts, for 

 the taste once acquired will seldom wane or die. 

 We do not propose at present to follow any sys- 

 tematic course, but to treat in a series of brief 

 articles of the habits and life history, as far as they 

 are known, of such insects as are frequently met 

 with, no matter what Order they may belong to. 

 We hope also to be able to present occasional 

 papers containing hints and instructions in refer- 

 ence to collecting and preserving insects. 



Dytiscus Harrisii (fig. 13). This is one of the 

 carnivorous water beetles, known as " Diving 

 Beetles " or " Water Tigers." a strong, sturdy 

 creiture of an oval flattened form, with oar-like 

 swimming legs, covered with long hairs. It is very 

 active in the water, darting and diving about in. different directions with 

 great rapidity, the form of its body with sharp, sides enabling it to cut 



