246 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January 



damag"e was observed upon forest trees of various kinds by the 

 caterpillars of a small moth, not yet identified, which webbed the 

 leaves together and consumed much of their substance. Maples 

 and beeches were the trees most attacked. 



Diptera.- -A subject which has been of considerable interest 

 to the Leaders is an injury to new bricks, previous to burning, 

 brought to their notice by Mr. Walter S. Odell. The larvae caus- 

 ing the in;ury travel up from the ground and burrow in the surface 

 of the soft bricks, thus disfiguring them very much. On two or three 

 previous occasions larvae have been submitted by Mr. Odell, but it 

 was not until the present season that the perfect insect was reared. 

 Dr. Howard, of Washington, to whom a specimen was sent for 

 determination, reports the species to be Pachyrhina sodahs, Loew. 

 This is one of tbe Tipulidae, or Crane-flies, the larvae of which are 

 known by agriculturists as Leather-jackets, many of which are 

 extremely injurious to growing crops. The injuries of the above- 

 mentioned species have been noticed in the brickyards both in 

 autumn and spring, showing that this curious habit is manifested 

 not merely at the time when the larvae are seeking suitable places 

 for pupation. 



Among injurious flies one of the notable attacks of the past 

 season has been that of root-maggots (Anthomyidae) to all 

 cruciferous crops. Another species of the same family has been 

 troublesome this year by its attacks upon the young shoots of 

 various species of cultivated Dianthus, and also of the elegant 

 garden plant GyPsophila patiiculata. This last attack has been 

 observed for some years, but was first noticed this season by Mrs. 

 M. J. Whelan, by whom specimens were sent to the Leaders. 



A preliminary list of Ottawa Diptera and some notes upon 

 these insects will be presented by Mr. Harrington this evening, 

 illustrated by specimens of many of the species. 



Hemiptera. — In this order some investigations have been 

 made upon the local species of Scale-insects and Plant-lice. The 

 most remarkable occurrence of these insects has been a severe 

 attack upon Elm-trees, during the month of August, by a species 

 of plant-louse, which appeared so abundantly upon shade-trees as 

 to render sitting or walking beneath them exceedingly unpleasan 



