1915 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 61 



soil; but, as was to be expected, it became scarce later. It has the habit of migrating 

 to other plants and feeding on them for the rest of tlie season. 



Apple Aphids (mostly Aphis pomi), were also abundant, but it was observed 

 that they were partially held in check by lady-birds and by Syrphidae and lace-wing 

 larvae. 



The Tarnished Plant-bug {Lygus pratensis) continues to be troublesome on 

 a great variety of vegetable crops and flower gardens. It is the " Dahlia Bug " of 

 the florist and the '"Strawberry-button Bug'' of the gardener. 



Potatoes were attacked severely by the Potato Flea-beetle (Epitrix cucu- 

 meris) and the Colorado Potato Beetle. The Perillus was not observed feed- 

 ing on the latter to any extent. 



Currants and gooseberries were attacked very much as usual by the Currant 

 Saw-fly and Currant Span-worm {Cymatophora ribearis), but both were readily 

 controlled by arsenicals. 



Various species of Root-maggots were present, and did much injury to onion 

 (Phorhia cepetorum), to cabbage, cauliflower and radish (Phorhia brassicace), to 

 turnips and corn {Pliorhia fusciceps), but not to the same extent as last year. 



The Beet-leaf Miner (Pegomyia vicina) attacked the spinach in the college 

 plantation last year. Some varieties of mangels were badly injured. 



In this Province there is much need for more information regarding the 

 Capsidae arid the Jassidae, for the impression is deepening that the bugs belonging 

 to these two families are of much importance economically. More detailed field 

 studies are also required of Wireworms, Cutwoums and White Grubs, for very 

 little seems to be known about their distribution. 



JEAN HENEI FABRE, THE FRENCH ENTOMOLOGIST. 

 W. Lochhead, Macdonald College, Que. 



During the past summer I came across two volumes of entomological essays 

 by J. Henri Fabre, and read them witii very great interest. His name was already 

 known to me through his writings on Spiders and Bees, but I had no adequa/te 

 conception of the wide field of insect life which Fabre has thoroughly studied 

 during his long life. Later I picked up three other volumns of essays, likewise 

 selections from the " Souvenirs Entomologiques," and these I found as entertain- 

 ing and instructive as the first two. Ashamed of my ignorance of this master 

 observer, I looked about for information as to his life, and I was fortunate in 

 securing Legros' work, entitled, " Fabre, Poet of Science," published by the Cen- 

 tury Company, which gave much of the information I desired. (See Plate, page 7.) 



Jean Henri Fabre was born December 22nd, 1823, in St. Leons, in the De- 

 partment of Vaucluse, near the mouths of the Rhone. His father was poor and 

 thriftless, and moved about from place to place as a cafe-keeper. Youno: Fabre's 

 school days, often most uninteresting; were passed at St. Leons, at Rodez, at 

 Toulouse, and at Montpellier. At seventeen he obtained by competition a bursary 

 into the Normal School at Avignon, where he remained two years and got his 

 superior certificate, wjiioh permitted him to teach. His first experience along this 

 line was gained as a primary teacher in the College of Carpentras. While there, 

 however, he found time not only to gratify his passion to know the world of nature 



