58 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



One specimen was found by Mr. G. Chagnon and two by myself, the reward of an after- 

 noon's scraping among dead leaves and rubbish. 



Saperda mutica Say., 19th July, Chambly Co., Que. 



Neoclyius erythrocephahis Fab., 11th July, St. Hilaire. 



Long-horns were very scarce throughout the season with the exception of Typocerus veluti- 

 nus Oliv., which was quite plentiful. 



Platydema ruficorne Sturm, was very abundant in Laval Co. on the 11th May, when Mr. 

 Chagnon and myself obtained over 150 specimens between us in a quarter of an hour. 



Two weevils that live on water plants Lixus rubellus Rand, and Lixellus Jiliformis Lee. , 

 were captured while boating on the lake at Mont Beloeil, St. Hilaire, on the 9th July. 



While rearing some Csmoderma eremicola larvje I found that the attractive "Nimble fly," 

 Zelia vertebrata Say., is its parasite. 



The beautiful Crane-fly BUtacomorpha clavipes Fab., was very abundant along the banks 

 of a stream running through the village of St, Hilaire, on the 11th July. 



Specimens of the " micropterous " variety of the Chinch-bug Blissiis leucopterxi,s Say., were 

 found at Rigaud on the 24th May and on Montreal Island during July. 



Lepidopterous larvae were somewhat scarce, especially such ones as the Tent-caterpillars 

 Clisiocampa americana Fab. , and the Tentless C. disstria Hbn. At St. Hilaire the water hem- 

 lock borers Gortyna marginidens, were plentiful, but those of the burdock G. rutila, usually 

 so common on Montreal Island, were fewer than in former years, and Cut- worms have not been 

 prominent. But the Tussock-moth caterpillar is spreading among the shade trees of Montreal 

 to a dangerous extent, and it is to be hoped that the citizens will awaken to the fact, before it 

 is too late. 



NOTES ON THE SEASON OF 1902. 

 By J. Alston Moffat, London, Ont. 



To the collector of natural history specimens, the weather is of the first importance ; and 

 in no other of the departments of natural history is the collector made to realize the close 

 denendence there exists I etween the weather and success, than in botany and entomology, 

 whilst entomology seems to be the more sensitive to adverse influences of the two. Hence, a 

 cool, wet summer, although it will produce luxuriant vegetation generally, may, nevertheless, 

 place Paris Green and Bordeaux mixture at a discount. 



Perhaps never in the history of his career, has that antiquated subject of reference, " the 

 oldest inhabitant," so completely failed to recall from the dim and distant past, a summer to 

 correspond with that of 1902 in this locality, for uniform coolness and frequent rains, and its 

 natural compensation, a general reduction in the number of insect pests. To the Entomo- 

 logical collector the season may be pronounced a complete failure. During a ramble in quest 

 of specimens, he might see the landscape adorned with flowers, and yet find no butterflies there 

 to give animation to the scene. But as has often been observed amidst a general scarcity, 

 some unusually good finds have been made. 



Four years ago Mr. Bice secured a specimen of that rare Sphingid Deidamia inscripta, 

 Harr, which he generously donated to the society's collection, the only representative of the 

 species yet there ; but early this season he took another in his own house, whilst yet another 

 was taken by Mr. J. Tanton in a difl"erent part of the city— a notable incident in so rare a 

 species. Mr. Bice also took a fresh specimen in perfect condition, of that attractive Sphingid 

 which is rarely met with here, Ampelophaga versicolor, Harr. 



