97 



fast approaching the first thing discussed was the contents of the lunch 

 baskets. Under the verdant boughs and in shady nooks of the beaute- 

 ous and abundant vegetation, all around there could be seen many a 

 group of Naturalists enjoying the mid-day meal in the open air, the 

 blue canopy ot a charmingly warm and delightful early September sky 

 o'erhanging all. 



At about one o'clock the different parties began to ascend the 

 hillside, the botanistf^, geologists and entomologists vieing with one 

 another as to who would get to the top first and would obtain most 

 material of interest. Many a group of observant students of nature 

 could be seen halted along the hillside and surrounding the leaders, 

 who there on the spot, would examine and describe the plants or rocks 

 and formations of the locality, and explain the interesting forms and 

 phenomena visible. It was nearly five o'clock before the party had 

 returned and gathered at the School House, where a number of 

 addresses were given, as is the custom on these occasions. 



The first to speak was Mr. J. Fletcher on " Insects and Insect 

 Life." There were two kinds of msects noted and described — the beriefi- 

 cial and the tioxiotis insects. These comprised many species and genera. 

 Mr. Fletcher described many of these and gave ready rules whereby 

 beneficial or noxious insects might be distinguished, pointing out the 

 economic relations and significance of these creatures in the world. He 

 exhibited several kinds of plant-galls and described the insects which 

 caused them, he also spoke of the parasitic and guest insects which are 

 found in large numbers in galls of all kinds. The great value of para- 

 sitic insec';s in the economy of nature was illustrated by an account of 

 the good services performed during the past season in Western Ontario 

 where almost every specimen of the Grape Vine Sphinx and the Tomato 

 Sphinx was found to be parasitised by enormous numbers of a small 

 enemy called Apanteles congregatus. No less than 207 of the latter 

 having emerged from a single Caterpillar of the Tomato Sphinx. The 

 egg parasites of insects, Proctotrypidce, were also described, and an 

 interesting account was given of the egg-parasite of the too-well known 

 Currant worm, Nemaius ribesii. 



Then followed Mr. R. B. Whyte, leader in Botany. In his usual 

 happy manner he described the plants that were observed and collected 



