250 THE entomologist's record. 



much of the entomological work done by this Society has been at the 

 instigation of our friend, Mr. Gibbs, who latterly has been ably 

 supported by Mr. P. J. Barraud. The report concludes with a short ac- 

 count of the Hertfordshire County Museum, which has been established 

 at St. Albans. In local Museums one always expects a miserable show 

 iu the portion devoted to insects, but at St. Albans we personally were 

 agreeably surprised to find that the strongest sections of the zoological 

 collections were to be found in the entomological exhibits. But this, 

 perhaps, was hardly to be wondered at when we found that the 

 authorities were indebted to the generosity of Mr. Gibbs for the whole 

 of this extensive and valuable collection (except coleoptera), and that 

 since the foundation of the Museum he has made this section his 

 especial care. It is only when collections of delicate and easily 

 deteriorated objects, such as insects, are under the care of a specialist, 

 that it is possible to adequately retain their usefulness for ready 

 reference and for information. Even the more advanced questions 

 which crop up in the study of entomology are illustrated in the 

 exhibits, for the same gentleman has, besides furnishing a series of 

 cases illustrating the general economy of insect life, prepared 

 illustrations of "Protective Resemblance," "Mimicry," "Warning 

 Coloration," etc. The other sections of the Guide Book are equally 

 well-written by writers competent in their respective subjects, with the 

 result that in the 48 pages a large mass of local information has 

 been attractively and instructively arranged, forming a capital example 

 for other societies in like circumstances. 



The Fortij- First Annual Report of the Ento)ii.olo(/ical Society of 

 Ontarin has just been issued from the Bureau of the Department of 

 Agriculture, Toronto, printed by order of the Legislative Assembly of 

 Ontario. We note from the financial statement that Members' fees 

 produced $350, while the Government grant was $1000 (!), and that 

 there is a balance of $730 to go on with. Comment is needless. A 

 large part of the work of this Society, or as I understand it. Union of 

 Societies, is to solidify the economic entomological work done in the 

 various provinces, by a two days' annual meeting in November, at 

 which reports on insects of the year are received from the Directors in 

 their respective districts, the usual reports from Council and Officers 

 are read, reports from the Branch Societies are presented, and a large 

 number of exhibits are made illustrative of various original papers 

 which are either read or communicated. Most of these last are of a 

 very practical character, such as " Beetles found about Foliage," by 

 P. J. A. Morris ; " On the Practical Importance of the Study of 

 Parasitic Insects," by C. Gordon Hewitt ; " The Coccidte of Canada," 

 by T. D. Jarvis ; "Some Insects of the Larch," by J. M. Swaine ; 

 " Basswood or Linden Insects," by Arthur Gibson ; " The Migration 

 of some Native Locusts," by Norman Criddle ; " The Role of Insects 

 in Water-Life," by J. G. Norman, etc. These papers are published 

 more or less fully in the report, with a few illustrations including 

 several plates illustrative of insect ravages on fruit in apple and 

 cherry orchards. Much of the matter contained in this publication 

 must needs be of infinite utility where so large an area of the land is 

 occupied by agriculture and forest, with sparse population and extreme 

 climatic conditions. 



