1902 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 23 • 



are finding more and more enemies to our crops, and as they come before us we turn to the 

 specialists, those who have made a special study of Entomology, and apply to them for help 

 and assistance, and as these men put into practice the results of their investigations, the people 

 as a whole are coming to the conclusion that after all these men are not merely men of theories 

 but are men of practice, and I think we shall find in connection with this Entomological 

 Society that theory and practice are working hand in hand as effectively as in connection with 

 any other society organized for the general welfare of this Province. 



Entomology is a subject which is not only of very great consequence to me, as these two 

 crops I have mentioned will give evidence, but it is a subject of very great interest. It came 

 out in discussion this afternoon that the pea crop of this Province during this past year was 

 worth from four to seven million dullars less than it was about ten years ago. This falling oft 

 in production is to be attributed to the destructive work of a minute insect. If our entomolo- 

 gists can give us a simple remedy whereby the ravages of this insect can be overcome, you can 

 understand how very practical their work must be. 



We have not a very long programme to lay before you this evening, but I think that you 

 will find that what we have to give you will be full of interest. 



I have now very much pleasure in introducing to you the Rev. Dr. Fyles of Quebec. 



Dr. Fyles then read his presidential address and illustrated it with a series of beautiful 

 diagrams, the work of his own hand. 



tl 



INSECT LIFE. 

 By Rev. Thomas W. Fyles, D.C L., F.L.S.— Presibent. 



The old Roman poet, Lucretius, made known, in lofty strains, his ideas upon Natural 

 Things. His poetry was better than his philosophy. He held the opinion that the soul of 

 man was diffused in atoms throughout the body. He argued that if, on the death of the 

 body, any of these soul atoms remained in it, the soul could not properly be accounted 

 immortal, because it suffered diminution. But, he continued, if the soul left the body with 

 all its parts entire, how do you account for the boneless, bloodless creatures that are found 

 in, and upon, the carcass 1 He seemed to think that the soul particles could embody 

 themselves anew in different ways. If Lucretius had been an Entomologist, and had known 

 the life histories of the Silphidte and Muscidoe he would not have entertained opinions so absurd. 



The great fjuestion of Life bafiied him, as it has baffled many a philosopher since. 



The boys, at the school I attended as a child, pointed out to me a celebrated surgeon, 

 lecturer on Anatomy, who, they said, was endeavoring to find out the nature, and the seat, 

 of life. We regarded him with awe ; but he never made the discovery — he died, and his 

 place knew him no more. 



Distinct from the highest meaning of the word Life, the Theological meaning, which 

 we understand in our Saviour's declaration, " They would not come unto Me that they 

 might have life," the word is used in various senses. It is used to denote : — 



I. Vitality — the power by which we live and move and have our being. 



II. The period between birth and death. 



III. Energy, vigour ; as in. He is full of life. 



IV. The condition and habits of life ; as high life, low life. 



V. A multitude of beings ; as the city teemed with life. 



VI. A life history. ^ 

 There are other meanings, but these will suflice for our present purpose. 



