1899] Afternoon Lectures. 81 



3. April, 24th. — " Entomology," by Dr. James Fletcher, 

 Dominion Entomologist. — The speaker without preliminary 

 introduction went right to the heart of his subject by asking 

 and answering shortly what is Entomology ? What is an insect ? 

 He deprecated the indiscriminate use of the word " bug " as 

 generally used because although all bugs were insects all insects 

 were by no means bugs. Insects are amongst the most 

 familiar of natural objects. They are met with in all climates and 

 in one or other form at all seasons of the year. It was estimated 

 that they comprised four-fifths of the animal kingdom ; no less 

 than 200,000 species being found in collections. Their place in the 

 classification of the animal kingdom was noted and the dif- 

 ferences betweeh the members of the seven great orders ex- 

 plained. This old classification of the insects was recommended 

 for beginners and the derivation of the names used explained. 

 Diagrams illustrating the different kinds ol insects were shown. 

 An earnest plea was made for a more extensive study of insects 

 on account of the utility of the knowledge obtained, first as a 

 means of preventing the great losses which annually occurred 

 among crops, then as a useful means of training the mind in 

 habits of accuracy, of observation and precision of description 

 and, lastly, as an unfailing and constant source of intellectual 

 pleasure. It was advised to study a few things well — e.g. a 

 single order or even a single insect, rather than to aim at amass- 

 ing a large collection, the thorough study of which was ren- 

 dered impossible by the shortness of the average life of man. 

 Becrinners were encouraged to make use of the leaders of the 

 club. The delight of rearing even one of our commonest but- 

 terflies from the egg through the larval stages to the chrysalis 

 and then to the perfect insect were graphically described and 

 . all present were urged to make at least one trial during the 

 coming season. The speaker felt sure that if this were done 

 many who had previously sesn no particular beauties in insects 

 would be surprised at the amount of pleasure they would derive 

 and the unexpected beauties they would discern in the exquisite 

 perfection of every sm.allest part of every insect they examined. 



