THE CAXADIAX ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 



The Curcuiionidct are generally hardy inserts, and widely distributed. 

 Cold does not affect them much, as we find species recorded as inhabiting 

 temperate /ones, ranging and occurring abundantly in northern latitudes. 

 I make a suggestion, which, if carried out, Mould greatly advance our 

 knowledge of this extensive family, of which, I am sorry to say, we know 

 little or nothing:- -That each of the Coleopterists of Ontario devote a 

 season to the stud}- of at least one species of Curculio — first arranging, at a 

 meeting of the Society or agreeing by correspondence, on the names of the 

 species selected for study — that is, that an understanding may be had in 

 order that everyone is to take up a separate species — each student to make 

 a report to the Entomological Society of Ontario sometime in the autumn. 

 Fitch, in his Report for 1859, p. 158, says that ; * we are not certain as to 

 the species of weevil which produce the grubs in our American hazelnuts, 

 walnuts and acorns." On the 31st March, I discovered the acorns of the 

 white oak, growing on the Mountain near this city, to be infested with a 

 Coleopterous larva. These acorns remained under the snow during winter, 

 and I have no doubt that they will produce weevils. The larv?e, at the 

 above date, were of three sizes, and quite vigorous. Color glossy white, 

 the young purely so, but the larger specimens are dotted with numerous 

 black dots arranged transversely on the segments. Head and thorax 

 chestnut color, but in some specimens a black square internal spot occurs 

 on the centre of the dorsal region ; this spot has an inter-cutaneous move- 

 ment when the animal creeps. When these acorns are examined, a small 

 circular hole may be noticed on the side of the nut, made by the parent 

 for the deposition of its eggs : but in man} - specimens the hole is so nicely 

 closed by the larva from within, that it requires a very expert eye to detect 

 the orifice. This is but one of the many curious stratagems described by 

 Kirby and others. Some of the larvae which I brought home have begun 

 to spin silken cocoons within the acorns ; and if I succeed in breeding 

 this insect, the readers of the ENTOMOLOGIST will learn it in a future paper. 



The good effects of Entomology are numerous : patience, persever- 

 ance, and punctuality are essential for successful collecting ; memory, 

 discrimination, and logical reasoning are necessarily cultivated ; early 

 rising is encouraged ; the mind and body of youth find occupation ; temp- 

 tation to immoral pursuits loses its effect : and liberality with a desire to 

 assist brother collectors is generally engendered, sometimes because it is 

 pleasant, at others because it pays better than greediness. —Knagz. 



