140 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct. 



been sown in the field several years ago. This assumption, of 

 course, adds the problem as to where the grass and clover seed 

 received the contamination. Possibly other records of its 

 occurrence in Canada may be forthcoming. 



From an agricultural point of view, Thymus Serpyllum is 

 not welcome. Its habit of growth here would indicate that it 

 might prove sturdily aggressive. But from the artistic point of 

 view it is very beautiful; and to a Canadian amateur botanist 

 gives meaning, for the first time, to the poet's line, "I know a 

 bank whereon the wild thyme grows." 



NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA OF LAKE ROSSEAU 

 DISTRICT, MUSKOKA, ONTARIO. 



By Arthur Gibson, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, 



At the head of one of the many small bays of the above 

 charming lake, the delightfully quiet summer resort of Rostrevor 

 is situated. Surrounded with rich, varied and even virgin woods, 

 it offers many interesting studies to the naturalist. During a 

 three weeks' stay at Rostrevor in September, 1907, the writer 

 spent some time in making collections of the insects of the 

 immediate vicinit}^ It was late in the season, however, to get 

 any fair idea of the insect fauna of the district, and the weather 

 too, most of the time, was unfavourable. The lepidoptera were 

 given special attention and the following list of species taken is 

 merely presented as a contribution towards a better knowledge of 

 that order of insects occurring in that portion of northern Ontario. 

 It will be noticed that many of the species are common or of 

 widespread distribution, but a few are interesting on account of 

 their rarity or owing to the fact that they are the first Canadian 

 captures of which we have record. The majority of the specimens 

 were collected "at light." Besides the moths which were attracted 

 to the bright acetylene lights on the verandah of the boarding- 

 house, two other kinds of insects were very abundant, viz.: 

 the common and widespread Polystcechotes punctatus, and the 

 " lamellicorn " beetle, Ligyrus relictus. The former has the habit 

 of flying quietly and lazily, but the latter appeared suddenly from 

 out of the darkness, circling around the lights and making a loud 

 buzzing noise, much to the consternation of the guests. 



