1905 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 63 



but the specimens were near together; and I swept them into my hat, and 

 clapt it quickly upon my head. They were fidgety for a while, but soon 

 quieted down and went to sleep ; and on reaching home I transferred them to 

 the cyanide-bottle. 



Speaking of the cyanide-bottle : how great an improvement its use is to 

 the old method of killing insects. Many a man, in the days I have spoken 

 of, fixed a sheet of cork in the crown of his hat, and a supply of pins in the 

 lapels of his coat ; nipped his captures smartly under the wings with the tips 

 of his thumb and fore-finger; pinned them ready for setting, and then stowed 

 them away in his hat. 



My own plan was to carry a small vial of chloroform and a few pieces of 

 twine about two inches long in my vest pocket, and a few nests of chip-boxes 

 in a special pocket of my coat. When I had boxed a specimen 1 slipped in 

 one of the pieces of twine wet with the chloroform, to send it to sleep ; and 

 when I reached home I gave it its final quietus by piercing it under the 

 wings with a steel pen dipped in a solution of oxalic acid. I found this a 

 good plan, and I often make use of it still. 



Before the cyanide-bottle was fairly established, men tried various ex- 

 pedients, — bruised laurel-leaves, formic acid, etc. One entomologist advo- 

 cated, in doggerel verse, a new agent: — 



"An agent nothing can surpass, 

 Will insects instant kill, 

 For preservation, too, as well. 

 This wondrous agent let me tell, — 

 Five drops, or ten, of nothing but 

 Essential oil of cajeput." 



W. H. 



There are many advantages now open to the Canadian entomologist, for 

 which he may consider himself highly favored. There is the great advan- 

 tage of having so able and obliging a scientist as Dr. James Fletcher of the 

 Department of Agriculture, to consult in his difficulties — one from whom he 

 may feel sure of receiving a courteous reply to his enquiries, and valuable 

 information. 



Again, the privilege is open to him of membership in the Entomological 

 Society of Ontario, either directly with the parent stem, or through one of 

 its branches. And in this connection, I congratulate Professor Sherman and 

 the members of the newly-formed Branch in Guelph. One of the helps they 

 will receive in their studies will be the receipt monthly of the Canadian 

 Entomologist, a publication in which Dr. Charles J. S. Bethune has built, 

 and is still building — and long may he continue to build — a monument that 

 will preserve his name as long as entomologists shall be found in Canada — 

 which I trust will be till the end of time. 



The annual meetings of the Society, present opportunities to be highly 

 prized. "Like as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his 

 friend;" and we cannot attend the meetings of this Society without feeling 

 encouraged and stimulated. 



A meeting that will be remembered with special pleasure is this pre- 

 sent gathering. The noble institution in which we are assembled, and its 

 beautiful surroundings ; the kindness of Principal Creelman and the mem- 

 bers of his staff; the presence with us of Professor J. B. Smith; his wonder- 

 ful description of the mosquito and its habits, so beautifully illustrated, will 

 all afford us delightful reflections. 



