THE. CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 



occupied by a strange parasite, a species of Mcrmis, known commonly as 

 a hair-snake, a name probably due to the absurd belief, not yet quite 

 extinct, that horse-hairs placed in water eventually become endued with 

 life, and change to hair-snakes. Several instances have! occurred of late 

 in the United States of these remarkable creatures being found in the 

 interior of apples, where they had lived as parasites on the Codling worm, 

 and having destroyed their host, remained in the fruit about the middle, 

 where they were in danger of being eaten. 



The Plum Curculio is no longer a stranger in that once famed plum- 

 producing district of which Goderich is the centre. So plentiful has it 

 become there now that some plum-growers are becoming quite discouraged 

 and ready to give up the culture of the fruit entirely. This troublesome 

 insect has not yet been reported from the Owen Sound district, where 

 plum culture is still extensively and profitably carried on. 



The importance of the study of Natural History in our schools, 

 especially the branch of Entomology, is beginning to be recognized, and 

 I trust the day is not far distant when every public school will have its 

 museum of Natural History objects, where the children can be taught 

 with the specimens before them the names and habits of the commoner 



A. 



mammals, birds, insects and plants with which they must constantly come 

 in contact. Such studies would, in my opinion, strengthen the intellect 

 and cultivate the memory and other faculties of the mind more thoroughly 

 than many of the more abstract studies now specially, designed for thai 

 purpose, while the practical value of such knowledge to the fortunate 

 possessor in after life can scarcely be over-estimated. I am glad to state 

 that at the Model Farm in Guelph the important study of insects injurious 

 to agriculture is regularly taught with the aid of a very fair collection of 

 specimens. 



The meeting of the Entomological Club of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science was held this year at St. Louis, where 

 some very interesting papers on destructive insects were read, and some 

 curious facts in reference to insect life elicited. Our Society was ably 

 represented by a member of our Editing Committee, Mr. E. B. Reed. It 

 will doubtless be a source of gratification to you to learn that your Presi- 

 dent has again been honored with the Vice-Presidency of that distinguished 

 body of naturalists. 



During the year some interesting additions have been made to our 

 Entomological literature, which we can only now partially and briefly 



