13 



In the United States, the cntcmoloc;ists are doing good work in their diflFerent depart- 

 ments, and while the task of naming and describing is being rapidly prosecuted, some of them 

 have leisure even to aim at changing the arrangement and nomenclature of the science. All 

 honour to thim for their industry and zeal, though some of their projects are too revolutionary, 

 even for the present changeful age. Still I believe that even Mr. Scudder's system will be 

 adopted at last, though, perhaps, very much modified in form. The great objection to it is 

 the unearthing and bringing to the front of the names and classification of Hubner and other 

 old authors who have been unnoticed if not forgotten for many years, and supplanting with 

 these names those with which we have been familiar, and which have been given by entomo- 

 logists who may be called the fathers of the science in America. The " law of priority," as 

 it is called, is being enforced to its utmost limit — too far, in my estimation — and the result 

 must be a discussion which will bring about a settlement of the question. Some years will 

 doubtless jiass before this end is gained ; in the meantime I like to keep to the old familiar 

 names, which seem to me like the names of old friends. 



Id the department of Physiological Entomology, Dr. Packard is carrying on investiga- 

 tions of great interest, into the nervous system of insects, which must result in the real ad 

 vancement of the science, and a great increase in our knowledge "of a most wonderful and at- 

 tractive subject. 



And now, gentlemen, I thank you for the honour you have done me in electing me your 

 President. I hope and believe that this year will be a prosperous one in our history, and that 

 we shall reap both mental and physical benefit from our studies. 



G. J. Bowles, 



Montreal. 



MEETINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE AMERICAN ASSO- 

 CIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OP SCIENCE. 



According to previous announcement, the first meeting of this Club was^held in the rooms 

 of the Detroit Scientific Association, on the 10th of August, 1875, at 2.30 p.m., Dr. J. L. 

 Leoonte, President, in the chair ; Prof. C. V. Riley, Secrerary. The attendance was large, 

 including S. H. Scudder, Esq., Cambridge, Mass., Vice-President, and Messrs. A, R. Grote, 

 Buffalo, N.Y. ; W. Saunders, London, Ont. ; B. P. Mann and E. P. Austin, of Cambridge', 

 Mass. ; Prof. E. S. Morse, Salem, Mass.; J. A. Lintner, Albany, N.Y. ; E. A. Schwarz, H. 

 G. Hubbard, and B. Walker, of Detroit ; Dr. A. E. Dalrymple and Dr. J. G. Morris, Balti- 

 more, Md. ; Prof. A. J. Cook, Lansing, Mich. ; Dr. Hoy, Racine, Wisconsin ; Clinton Roose- 

 velt and Geo. Dimmock, Springfield, Mass. ; B. D. Sanders, J. C. Holmes, and Wm. Provis 

 Detroit; J.T. Ison, Cleveland, Ohio; and others. 



President Leconte, in a few opening remarks, stated the objects had in view in the for- 

 mation of this Club. They were chiefly to cultivate closer personal relations among those 

 interested in Entomological pursuits, many of whom were widely separated by distance, to 

 exchange views and record observations, and to exhibit specimens of interest. He hoped 

 that the meetings would ntt only be fruitful in these respect.s, but that, seeing the importance 

 of Entomology in its relation to agriculture, some good to the country might flow from the 

 deliberations. 



Mr. Wm. Saunders mentioned the fact of the unusual scarcity of insects of the Saw fly 

 family (Tenthrcdinidfr) throughout western Ontario, especially those destructive to fruit 

 naming the Gooseberry Saw fly (JVemafits mntncosiis) and the Pear Tree Slug (Stlaiu/ria 

 cerasi). Both these insects, although enormously abundant and destructive in 1871, had been 

 quite scarce in 1875. He called for suggestions as to the cause, his own impression being hat 

 this diminution had been caused by the severity of the late winter and spring. 



Prof. Cook, of Lansing, Mich., had not observed any remarkable scarcity of these species 

 in his neighbourhood. 



Prof. Riley had remarked their almost entire absence in some localities, and their com 

 parative abundance in others. 



Mr. A. R. Grote exhibited specimens of Agrotis islwndica from the top of the White 

 Mountains and from Labrador. 



