1905 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 61 



In Europe in former days foresters were men of standing and import- 

 ance. It seems to me that it would be a good thing if our Government would 

 appoint in every county in which lumbering operations are being carried on 

 and settlements made, Government foresters, intelligent men of high charac- 

 ter, allowing them such assistance as might be required. Their duties 

 should be to preserve the game, destroy the wolves, regulate the burning of 

 the debris of the lumber camps and clearings, see to the due observance of 

 forest laws, and generally to conserve woodland interests. 



I think that such officers would have many important duties to perform 

 and that their life would be full of interest and attraction. 



THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE CANADIAN 



ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Eev. Thomas W. Fyles, D.C.L., F.L.S., Levis, Quebec. 



The youthful entomologist in England, in the forties and fifties of last 

 century, was a privileged person — he enjoyed many advantages. Kirby 

 and Spence were both living in the earlier half of the period mentioned. 

 Kirby died on the 4th of July, 1850. In 1856 Spence brought out a cheap 

 edition of the "Introduction to Entomology," and, in four years, 10,000 

 copies of the work were sold. This work did more than any other to popu- 

 larize the study of entomology. 



Those were the days of Newman, Stainton, Waterhouse, Douglas, West- 

 wood, Morris, Wollaston, Wilkinson, and other lights. Van Voorst was 

 publishing works on Natural History. Newman was carrying on the "Zoo- 

 logist," and Stainton the "Weekly Intelligencer." There was an abun- 

 dance of cheap yet valuable literature for the rising entomologist. 



The comparatively small extent of the British Islands brought the 

 number of species — say of the Lepidoptera — within the mental grasp of 

 the diligent student. How different is it with us now, on this vast continent 

 of North America ! A crown-octavo volume of 723 pages is now required, 

 for a mere list of the Lepidoptera with its index. 



England in those days was a very paradise for entomologists. The 

 plantations and hazel-copses for the preservation of the game, the open 

 woods of — 



.... "tall ancestral trees 

 O'er all the pleasant land," 



the withy-gores, the fens, the moors were all famous hunting-grounds. 



It was a privilege to take part in an "outing" at some appointed place. 

 To wander along the forest paths alive with Marbled Whites and Silver- 

 washed Fritillaries, till the waving nets shewed the spot where the Entomol- 

 ogists were gatiiered together. The excitement of the chase, the refection 

 in the shade of the trees, the pleasant conversation, the comparison of 

 captures, were things to be remembered. So were the multitudinous voices 

 of the birds that made the woodland ring. England is rich in Song-birds; 

 and linnets, goldfinches, bulfinches, yellowhammers, black-caps, white- 

 throats, robins, blackbirds, thrushes, and others, seemed to greet the wood- 

 land visitors in one full tide of song. 



