1909J Reminiscences of Dr. Fletcher. 201 



ing and prying generally around in swamps and thickets, we 

 would hurry off to breakfast with his big collecting box, known 

 as the "bath," filled with the spoils. In the afternoon there was 

 more collecting, and the evenings were spent in preparing and 

 mounting specimens, and in the capture of any insects which 

 might be attracted to our lights, set on a balcon.y and backed by 

 a white sheet. There was little time for idle hands, but after 

 dinner on fine days we might recline on the sward to smoke and 

 chat with our housemates, and play with a fifth member of our 

 establishment, namely Joe Fox, who often accompanied us on 

 our evening rambles through the fields. He was full of graceful 

 and amusing antics, delighting to gamble with the dogs, but his 

 fondness for chickens threatened to make him very dear to us. 

 On our return to the city I gave him to Fletcher, but after some 

 amusing episodes he escaped and reverted to the life of the wild. 



During this year (1878) Fletcher and a few kindred spirits 

 often discussed the possibility and necessity of reviving in Ottawa 

 the scientific researches which had existed in earlier years, and 

 these discussions eventually led to the founding, in March 1879, 

 of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club for "the study of the natur- 

 al history of this locality." Although he more than once pub- 

 licly stated that the idea of the club may be said to have origi- 

 nated with Mr. R. B. Whyte, he was the central and moving 

 figure in its organization, and to his sustained exertions during 

 the many years in which he occupied various positions on the 

 Council is largely due the progress and high standing achieved 

 by the Club. He had ever its interests at heart and in the midst 

 of multifarious duties, which made excessive demands upon his 

 time and strength, he was ever ready to undertake some new 

 service on its behalf. 



As a botanist and entomologist, he realized the intimate 

 relations which exist between plants and insects, and recognized 

 the serious loss occasioned by the depredations of injurious insects 

 upon the products of garden, farm and orchard. Foreseeing that, 

 with the inevitable rapid extension of agriculture through the 

 varied soils and climates of our widespread Dominion, and the 

 unavoidable introduction of insects pests from abroad, the loss 

 would be enormously increased, he devoted himself to the prac- 

 tical and economic aspects of his favorite studies, and vigorously 

 began that campaign for the institution of investigations and for 

 the dissemination of information, which occupied him for the 

 remainder of his life. He was much pleased when, as the entering 

 of the wedge, he was in June 1884 appointed Entomologist to the 

 Department of Agriculture, and at the close of the year was 

 enabled to publish a preliminary report of seven pages, which 



