No. 3.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 181 



1. Beetles from the Island of Montreal exclusively, 193 species. 



2. Mr. Billings' collection .... 444 " 



3. Specimens mostly from the Province of Ontario, 198 " 



In all - 835 " 



While engaged in endeavouring to collect fresh specimens of 

 local beetles for the cabinet, other orders have not been neglected, 

 and fair series of hymenoptera, diptera, and orthoptera have been 

 obtained. The proper setting of large numbers of insects, and 

 their correct determination, has of course taken up considerable 

 time. 



During Mr. Selwyn's explorations in the vicinity of the Peace 

 River, attention was given to collecting the insects of that region. 

 A large series of coleoptera were brought from that part of the 

 world, and were kindly presented to the Society by Mr. Selwyn. 

 The whole of these have been sent to Dr. Leconte, of Phila- 

 delphia, who has kindly promised to report upon them. 

 When they are returned they will form a very valuable and 

 indeed unique feature in our cabinet. Dr. Leconte moreover 

 promises to examine and determine all our local coleoptera which 

 remain unnamed, particularly the Curculionidce, of which little 

 or nothing is known at present. The whole of the Canadian 

 Lepidoptera have also been re-arranged, and the collection now 

 fills 6 drawers. Many of our local species are still unrepresented, 

 and entomologists are respectfully reminded of the many vacan- 

 cies to be met with in this part of our cabinet. As a great 

 difference of opinion unhappily exists as to what is the proper 

 nomenclature in this group, the old names have been provision- 

 ally retained. 



Dredging operations have been carried on during the past 

 summer in the Gulf of Georgia by Mr. Richardson. The dredg- 

 ings extended from outside Victoria-Harbour to within a short 

 distance of Race Islands lighthouse and thence to the Constance 

 bank, the average depth being from 25 to 50 fathoms. A few 

 successful casts were also made in Baynes Sound, also between 

 Texada and Harwood Islands. The specimens obtained in this 

 way are of unusual interest ; there is one small sponge ; six 

 Echinoderms ; thirteen species of Polyzoa, many of which are 

 new to science; fifty-four species of Mollusca, and four Crus- 

 tacea. Three of the shells are novelties, two of which have 

 recently been described by Mr. Dall from Alaska, which was the 



