1903 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 85 



ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD, 1903. 

 By Dr. James Fletcher, Ottawa. 



The collecting season of 1903 was in most parts ot Canada coi'l and disappointing ; but, as 

 is usually the case, persevering collectors made many interesting captures. 



Judging from correspondence, the publication of the Entomological Record has had a most 

 stimulating efiect upon the study of entomology in Canada. Collectors can now learn the names 

 and addresses of all the leading local collectors and students of the different orders of insects. 

 The publication of records of captures of rare species, or those which have occurred either 1 eyond 

 their known range or at unusual seasons of the year, has also given much valuable information 

 concerning the geographical distribution and life histories of m«ny species. From exact infor- 

 mation of this nature, some important collecting expeditions have been made by specialists, 

 wliich have aided much toward the accurate working up of our Canadian insect fauna. Our 

 collectors have also benefited much from being brought into correspondence with leading 

 authorities outside our borders. 



A great many notes of captures have been sent in — some of these, it is true, rather late in 

 the year to be made the best use of, because in certain cases, records required confirmation before 

 publication. A few correspondents considerately sent in their lists month by month, which 

 hns been a great assistance to the compiler, who here expresses his gratitude, making special 

 mention of Messrs. Taylor, Harvey, Heath, Hanham, Criddle and Mcintosh. It is much 

 easier to make full use of these lists than of those which come in at the end of the season and 

 are then, as a rule, hurriedly made up with few data. The exact locality and date are 

 essential, and when, besides, notes are pdded as to the food plant or habitat, the record is very 

 much increased in value. 



A constant effort has been made to credit each collector with the capture of any species 

 recorded — not only for his own sake, but so that anyone interested in a particular species may 

 know to whom he can write for further information. 



As anticipated in the last issue, there has been a great increase in the amount of special 

 work done in Canada in 1903. 



It is again my pleasing duty to gratefully acknowledge the invaluable help which has been 

 given Canadian collectors in all parts of the Dominion by the leading American and Canadian 

 specialists of the various orders of insects. No words can overstate the obligation we are under 

 to such men as Dr. J.B. Smith, of New Brunswick, N .^.-j Dr. L.O. Howard, the U.S. Entomo 

 logist, Dr. Harrison G. Dyar, Mr. D. W. Coquillet and Dr. W. H. Ashmead, of Washington ; 

 also to Dr. Henry Skinner, of Philaiielphia ; Mr. E P. Vanduzee, of Buffalo ; Prof. H. F. 

 Wickham, of Iowa City, Iowa, and Mr. W. H. Harrington of Ottawa, Ont. These gentlemen 

 have, in the most patient and generous manner, examined and named thousands of specimens 

 for struggling collectors, who, without their help, might, — as so very many before them 

 have done, — have given up the stucly of insects altogether, because, having no one to tell them 

 anything about their captures, they hrst became discouraged and then lost all interest in the 

 sul)ject. 



I again take the liberty of reminding my colleagues of the great importance, when sending 

 insects to specialists for identitication, of always submitting a good series of specimens for 

 examination, when possible, and, further, that every effort should be made to provide 

 such a friend with any specimens which he may indicate as desirable. In exchanging, a cardinal 

 princij'le is that generosity is a policy of equal value with honesty. 



There is a continued and satisfactory increase in the attention which is being given to the 

 study of insects in our public schools, and naturally this has been fostered by the different 

 memliers of the Entomological Society in their own localities. There is also a constant demand 



