38 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May 



night. A paper by Mr. Young on the " Inflation of Larvse " was 

 then read and the author gave an exhibition of the skilful manner 

 in which he prepares his beautiful and lifelike specimens. He in- 

 flated a Mamestra larva and also the hairy caterpillar of Phrag- 

 metobia riibicundiila , pointing out that hibernated individuals were 

 somewhat more difficult to make good skins of than the summer 

 forms. He showed fine skins of the caterpillars of Ofgyia leuros- 

 iigma, Arnpelophaga tnv'on, Phyrrui umbra and Acronyctd im- 

 pressa, and also a fine series of imagos of Colias Eiirythetnc (with 

 larva) and a specimen of that rare little yellow butterfly, Terias 

 Lisa. Dr. Fletcher showed a White Grub [Lnchnosterna sp.^ 

 bearing the parasitic fungus Cordiceps nielolonthce, and Mr. Young 

 stated that similar specimens occurred annually in his garden. 

 Mr. Harrington exhibited a case of some of the chief insects in 

 different orders which he had taken in Japan, and Dr. Fletcher 

 drew attention to several new books on nature study which were 

 upon the table, including Roberts' "Kindred of the Wild " and 

 " Round the Camp Fire " and Long's " Fowls of the Air," etc. 



W. H. H. 



MEKTINGS OF TH K BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



The first meeting of the Botanical Branch was held on the 

 evening of February 5th, at Dr. Fletcher's house, who, as chair- 

 man for the evening, explained that the reason the meeting had 

 been called was twofold. After discussion, the botanical leaders 

 had decided that regular meetings of the Branch would be very 

 useful in keeping up the interest in botany among the members, 

 by giving an opportunity for the reading of notes and short papers 

 and for the discussion of many matters which might not be con- 

 sidered of sufficient importance to bring before the general meet- 

 ings of the Club ; further than this, these contributions would 

 provide valuable matter for publication in the Ottawa Naturalist. 



Each member present was invited to express his views on the 

 subject. All were unanimous in the opinion that such meetings 

 wi uld be very helpful and Mr. J, M. Macoun, the Editor of 

 the Ottawa Naturalist, stated that the contributions would 



