8 



the month of September. Some years ago a learned European professor claimed that 

 he had proved the identity of this fungus with the common blue mould and also with 

 that of yeast ; and in proof used the fungus of the fly for the pui-pose of raising bread, 

 and shewed that it was possible to brew beer with the common mould. The close re- 

 lationship, if not the actual identity, of these three was thus established. Quite recently 

 it has been proposed by Dr. Hagen, of Cambridge, Mass., to use a diluted solution of 

 yeast in water with an atomizer as a means of destroying noxious caterpillars and other 

 insects by introducing disease among them, and it seems quite likely that the use of this 

 remedy may to some extent prove effectual. 



The Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapce, having pretty well colonized the northern por- 

 tions of America, is still travelling southward. During the present season it has been 

 reported as common in many localities in the State of Alabama, and has nearly reached 

 the Gulf of Mexico ; it seems as capable of adapting itself to extremes of heat as of cold. 

 The Forest Tent Caterpillar, Clisiocampa sylvatica, which has been so very numerous and 

 destructive in our neighbourhood for two years past, has almost disappeared. The Col- 

 orado Potato Beetle seems to have fairiy established itself in several places in Europe, 

 and if it proves as prolific there as here it will be rapidly disseminated. The Wheat 

 Midge, Cecidomyia tritici, has appeared in the neighbourhood of Port Hope, Ont., but not 

 to any alarming extent. The Plum Curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, has been common 

 as usual, while reports have been received from several districts of the increasing j)reva- 

 lence of the Codling Worm, Carpocapsa pomonella. 



Our journal, The Canadian Entomologist has been well sustained during the past 

 year, and through the kindness of our esteemed contributors we have been enabled to 

 present our readers with many original papers of great practical value. Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards, of West Virginia, has continued his very useful and valuable papers on the life 

 histories of our butterflies. Dr. Bailey, of Albanjs N. Y., has given us an interesting 

 description of the various stages of Cossus Centerensis, illustrated by an excellent litho- 

 graphic plate. Many new species of insects have been described by Messrs. A. E. Grote, 

 W. H. Edwards, V. T. Chambers, Prof. Fernald and others, besides which we have pub- 

 lished a very large number of papers of general interest. 



Among the more important recent contributions to our Entomological literature may 

 be mentioned anew edition of the Catalogue of the Described Diptera of North America, 

 by Baron Osten Sacken ; the Coleoptera of Florida and Michigan, by John L, LeConte, 

 M. D., and E. A. Schwarz ; Eeport on the Insect and other Animal Forms of Cale- 

 donia Creek, New York, by J. A. Linter ; the Coleoptera of the Alpine Eegions of the 

 Eocky Mountains, by John L. LeConte, M. D. ; on the Collection of Insects made by 

 Dr. Elliot Coues in Dakota and Montana — the Orthoptera by Cyrus Thomas, Hemip- 

 tera by P. E. Uhler, Lepidoptera by W. H. Edwards; Notice of the Butterflies Collected 

 by Dr. Edward Palmer in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, in 1877, by Samuel H. 

 Scudder ; and an account of some insects of unusual interest from the tertiary rocks of 

 Colorado and Wyoming, by the same distinguished author. The elaborate and volumi- 

 nous report of the U, S. Entomological Commission on the Eocky Mountain Locust, with 

 maps and illustrations, issued in 1878, did not reach us in time to be noticed at our last 

 annual meeting. It is a work which has involved great labour, and besides containing 

 much that is new, covers the entire field of our knowledge in reference to this destructive 

 pest. Prof. C. V. Eiley, of Washington, has issued a special report on the Silk-worm, 

 being a brief manual of instructions for the production of silk, with illustrations. Prof. 

 A. E. Grote has written Preliminary Studies on the North American Pyralidae, and 

 Samuel H. Scudder a Century of Orthoptera. Several additional numbers of Edwards' 

 magnificent work on North American Butterflies have appeared, with charming plates. 



The members of the Entomological Commission of the United States are devoting 

 their attention this year especially to the Hessian Fly, investigating its habits, preparing 

 statistics of the losses occasioned by its attacks, and testing the various remedies which 

 have been suggested for its destruction. In a circular issued in June last they solicit the 

 co-operation of Entomologists, many of whom will, I trust, be able to render them 

 efficient aid in this good work. 



During the year, death has removed from our ranks three well known labourers in 



