86 



Earlier in the season there might be found upon these plants two 

 other insects peculiar to Asclepias, viz., a loagicorn beetle, Tetraopes 

 tetrao/)kthalmiis, red with black spots, the larvag of which feed in the 

 roots or lower stems, and the larva of the big Milkweed butterfly, 

 Danais archippiis, a conspicuous caterpillar strikingly ornamented with 

 narrow yellow, white and black bands. 



Members sometimes enquire as to the time for collecting cater- 

 pillars, so it may be noted that just at this season the larvae of many of 

 our larger moths attain maturity, and thus very interesting species can 

 be easily secured. 



Among caterpillars which have been unusually aoundant this 

 summer may be mentioned that of Leucarciia acrea, the so-called Salt- 

 marsh caterpillar, which, however, is not confined to the sea-coast, but 

 has been more or less destructive all over the country. 



This is also a good season to examine for galls the oaks, hickories, 

 willows, golden-rods, Lactuca, Nabalus, sumac, asters, etc., etc. 



-:o:- 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Edited by A. G. Kingston. 



Robins as Destroyers of Hairy Caterpillars and White Grubs. 



One of the large Wooly bear Caterpillars {Leucarciia acrcBa) has 

 been unusually abundant at Ottawa this year, Mr. Fletcher reports 

 having seen Robins on several occasions eating these caterpillars. 

 They are not eaten at once ; but are shaken and rubbed in the grass 

 and on the ground for a minute or two when most of the long hairs are 

 tound to be removed. By running out suddenly the birds were on two 

 or three occasions driven off and their victims examined. The same 

 birds were also noticed doing good work on lawns by destroying the 

 larvae of the May-beetles the injurious White Grubs. 



The Chimney Swift .' .-. 



Our local colony of the~.e singular birds, swollen by the large 

 number of young hatched during the present season, appears to have its 

 quarters at the Western Departmental Buildings too crowded for com- 

 fort. On the evening of 27th August a considerable flock was observed 

 circling in their usual manner above the City Hall and finally descending 

 ' into a small vertilating tower on the north side of that building. These 



