118 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



were found in numbers feeding on the leaves of the Joe Pye Weed, 

 Ewpatorium purpureuvi, L., and in some pasture fields the Hard Hack, 

 Spircea tomentosa, L., was seen to be badly infested by a cecidomyid. Many 

 of these plants were entirely covered by these galls. Since, the small fly 

 has been reared and specimens have been determined by Dr. E. P. Felt, as 

 Rhabdophaga salicifolia, a species which has been found abundant in Mais- 

 achusettes and New York on the above plant and also on the Common 

 Meadow-sweet, Spircea salicifolia, L. A single worn specimen of the rare 

 butterfly, Argynnis triclaris, Hbn., was taken in the Mer Bleue by Mr. 

 Young. On June 9th three fine examples of this insect were captured *n 

 the bog, one by Mr. Griddle, one by Mr. Young, and the other by the 

 writer. Dr. Fletcher has, once or twice previously, collected this butterfly 

 at the Mer Bleue, which is probably the most southern locality known for 

 this insect. 



The Fall Webworm, Hyphantria textor, Harr., was particularly abund- 

 ant all over the district. Their conspicuous nests were present in large 

 numbers on willow, maple, elm, birch, apple, hawthorn and wild cherry. 

 On July 25th the caterpillars were about half an inch in length and a little 

 over a week later they were nearly an inch long. It is a pity, and a disgrace 

 to every one who has trees, that this insect is allowed to increase to such 

 an extent and render trees so unsightly by the conspicuous nests made by 

 the larvae. It is a simple matter for hundreds of owners of trees to cut off 

 these nests when they are first noticed, and trample upon the caterpillars 

 under foot. 



The Snow-white Eugonia, Ennomos suhsignarius, Hbn. On the evening 

 of July 23rd last, enormous numbers of these moths appeared in all parts 

 of the city, being attracted to the electric lights. An account of this visita- 

 tion is given in the Ottawa Naturalist, September, 1908. The large numbers 

 of these insects present on that evening caused a good deal of comment. 

 Some of the electric light poles and the sides of buildings were literally 

 covered with the "moths and looked as if they had been whitewashed, or 

 given a coat of white paint. The sparrows of the city had a great feast 

 early the following day. Next morning the wings of the insects were to 

 be seen all along the main streets. At the entrance to some of the larger 

 buildings, the wings were so numerous that some little time had actually 

 to be taken to sweep them away. In Dr. E. P. Felt's valuable report for 

 1907, which has ijust come to hand, it is stated that the caterpillars of this 

 moth were found in immense numbers defoliating beech trees in Ulster 

 County, New York, during the summer of that year. Possibly they were 

 present in large numbers in other districts. These caterpillars when seen, 

 were mostly mature, and were pupating by July 26th. Moths from these 

 larvae emerged soon afterwards and eggs were deposited. The insect, there- 

 fore, has been steadily increasing for the last two or three years. No cater- 

 pillars have .been seen in the Ottawa district during the present season, 

 and it would be most interesting to know where all the moths came from. 

 Their sudden great abundance was certainly remarkable. According to the 

 meteorological observations taken at the Central Experimental Farm, by 

 Mr. W. T. Ellis, there were no strong winds at Ottawa during the week 

 beginning July 19th, nor in fact during the week previous to that. The 

 prevailing winds from July 19th to July 25th were south and southwest, 

 but the word "calm" in Mr. Ellis' report signifies that there was practically 

 no wind blowing when the records were taken. During the whole week 

 above mentioned the number of miles recorded is only slightly over 191, 

 while the average of wind for a week is over 900. Of course, the upper 

 currents may have been very much stronger. 



