64 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Feb. 



more pleasure from inspecting a comparatively small collection 

 judiciously arranged, and well mounted — as for example the birds 

 in the University of Edinburgh College Collection — than from 

 the examples in the great British Museum itself. 



" In the nucleus of a future extensive museum embraced by the 

 geological collection, the examples of animals, of birds, reptiles, and 

 fishes, and in the herbarium belonging to this Society, I feel sure. 

 Sir, there are offered opportunities which must furnish on all points 

 most valuable helps to students of natural history in this country ; 

 and thus positive utility as well as the cause of theoretical science 



« 



cannot fail to be subserved." 



General chemical experiments, of an interesting description, 

 were then performed by Professor Robins, accompanied with ap- 

 propriate explanations. 



Durino; the remainder of the evenino; the entertainment was 

 contributed to by Mr. Hearn, optician, who exhibited a series of 

 dissolving views ; and by the band, who gave several other choice 

 selections. The visitors also examined with much pleasure the 

 various interesting objects in the Society's collection, and a 

 number of microscopes and other scientific instruments displayed 

 in the library. 



THE MAPLE-LEAF CUTTER. 



At a late meeting of the Natural History Society, a coiniouni- 

 cation was read from Rev. Mr.Constabell of Clarenceville, describing 

 the ravages of an insect whose larva barrows in the maple leaves, 

 cutting out circular pieces, which are used as coverings to protect 

 the larva while eating the parenchyma of the leaf. 



From the specimens exhibited, it appeared that the insect is a 

 little moth, Oniix acerifollella of Fitch, well known in the State 

 cf New York, though apparently not hitherto recorded in Canada. 

 Fitch states that it is not ordinarily very destructive, but that in 

 some seasons it appears in great numbers, and inflicts considerable 

 ravages, especially on detached maple groves. He recommends 

 that cattle should be turned into the affected groves in autumn, in 

 the hope that their treading would destroy the pupae, which at 

 that season are lying on the ground, wrapped in their coverlets of 

 cut leaves. 



J. W. D, 



