With regard to the Society, you have already learnt, from the satisfactory Report* of 

 the parent organization and its various branches, that it continues to go on prospering in a 

 quiet, unostentatious way. While there has been no marked increase to our list of members 

 during the past year, and no perfbimauce of any work of unusual importance, yet it is a mat- 

 ter of congratulation that we have no falling off, either in numbers or resources, to deplore. 

 Much of the inactivity in Entomological matters that has been apparent in this country 

 during the past year may no doubt bo ascribed to the prevalent " hardness of the times," 

 which has occasioned — even to those least affected by it — much anxiety of mind, conjoined 

 very often with increased absorption in the cares of bnsiness, or in the labours necessary for 

 obtaining a livelihood. As you are well aware, we have in Canada but very few persons of 

 assured wealth who are able, as in older and richer countries, to devote their abundant leisure to 

 literature, art or science. Const quently, the condition of things in the world about us de- 

 prives most of our members of the leisure, if not also of the inclination, requisite for the suc- 

 ce^sful pursuit of Entomology in any of its various phases. Before another season opens upon 

 us, however, we have reason to believe that the worst of the present financial sturm will be 

 over, and that renewed confidence and prosperity throughout the country will remove the 

 gloom and dulness now oppressing almost every department of work among us. With a re- 

 vival of butiness, we may assuredly look for a restoration of activity in scientific pursuits, 

 and hope that our Society, in common v-ith others of a kindred character, may be distin- 

 guished by large accessions to its numbers, and by iucieased work iu all its departments. 



Last year, at our annual meeting, I took the opportunity of calling your attention to 

 many fields of Entomological labour that are now all but unexplored in this country. May I 

 repeat that there is ample scope for the exertions of all our members, whether they care only 

 to form collectiuiis of specimens, or prefer to devote their labours to the unfolding of the life 

 histories, or the study of the classification of insects? There is plenty of work remaining to 

 be done, even in the favourite orders of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, to say notliiug of the 

 others that are not so generally studied or collected. It would be a valuable contribution to 

 our store of knowledge were lists of the Canadian species of all orders of insects to be formed 

 and presented to the Society for publication, and at the same time a revision made of those 

 published some yeais ago. 



But not only is there scientific work of this kind to be performed, which will require 

 generations for its complete achievement ; there comes before us at the present moment an ex- 

 traordinaiv object for accomplisliment during the approaching winter. I allude to the repre- 

 sentation cf the Society by means of a collection of Canadian insects at the approaching Cen- 

 tennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. You will all, I think, agree with us in the belief that it 

 is a matter of great importance to the Society that it should be brought iu this way before the 

 notice of the world, and that it cannot but be of some benefit to the Dominion that its natural 

 history, as well as its industrial resources, should be fully exhibited. The Council of the 

 Agricultural and Arts Association have already, on our behalf, brought the matter before the 

 Commissioners appointed by the Government, and we understand that a sum of money will be 

 provided to aid us in the satisfactory performance of the work. To gather together a fitting 

 ctUection of insects, and to prepare them for exhibition, is a task that will strain to the ut- 

 most all the resources of the Society. We have commenced the work, relying upon the co- 

 operation of you ail, and now we trust that every one will help us by the loan ot specimens, 

 and any other aid that can be afforded. The Society is committed to the task ; let us see to 

 It that there be no failure. 



Before turning from matters immediately affecting our Society, I may mention that our 

 periodical, The C4NADian Entomologist, continues to be maintained with uudiminisiied 

 efficiency and interest, being largely supported and contributed to by our Entomological bre- 

 thren of the United States ; and that the last Annual Report presented by the Society to the 

 Legislature ha.s been received with more than usual marks of favour by the Press, scientific, 

 agricultural and political, not only in Canada and the neighbouring States, but also in England. 

 We have been naturally gratified to observe that, in many instances, copious extracts have 

 been made from its pages, and even a whole article reprinted in au English scientific 

 magazine. 



Having referred thus far to our Society, and the things that especially concern it, let me 

 uow say a few words regarding Entomological matters in general. At the annual meeting of 

 the American Asso .• tion for the Advancement of Science, held in August last at Detroit, 



