The bringing together of such an immense number of agricultural productions as are 

 now on exhibition in Philadelphia, including almost ever}' variety of grain, peas, beans 

 and other useful productions on the face of the globe, affords a favourable opportunity for 

 the introduction of any insect pests which may infest these articles in the country of their 

 growth ; these, if introduced and acclimatized, may attack similar or related products in 

 this country, unless precautions are taken against their dissemination, and thus we may 

 have new foes to fight which may be very difficult to contend with. The American Cen- 

 tennial Commission, who do not seem to have overlooked anything, have, with wise fore- 

 sight, appointed a special Commission of eminent Entomologists to report on the insects 

 introduced along with the products exhibited. This report will be looked forward to with 

 much interest by agriculturists as well as Entomologists. 



The Agricultural Building in which our insects were shown, was well supplied with 

 skylights, which admitted a flood of light on everything below. Exposure to this brilliant 

 light for so many months has had a damaging effect on the colours of some of our Lepid- 

 optera, the moths being much more faded than the butterflies ; this fading is especially 

 noticeable in insects having any red colours on their wings, such as the Catocalas and 

 Arctians ; many of these, however, can be replaced without much difficulty. 



Suitable arrangements have been made for the careful packing and re-shipping of 

 the insects at the close of the Exhibition, wlien they will be forwarded to the Society's 

 rooms in London, Out. Here it is proposed to keep the collection as far as possible un- 

 disturbed, where it will serve a good purpose as a collection of reference for collectors to 

 name their specimens from. Mr. Pettit has kindly consented to allow all that he has 

 contributed to remain in the Society's rooms, and all the London members will follow his 

 example. Mr. Wm. Couper, of Montreal, has generously donated all he has sent to the 

 Society, and I doubt not that most of our other friends in Montreal and elsewhere, who 

 have contributed to the collection, will allow such of their insects as are not represented 

 in our cabinets in London, to remain at least for a time, when no doubt most of them 

 could be replaced. The advantages which will result to our Society from the possession 

 of a collection so well worked up and so correctly named, can scarcely be overestimated, 

 affording as it will, conveniences to collectors for naming specimens such as we have never 

 had before. If for no other reason, we shall, in the possession of these advantages, always 

 have cause to remember with pleasure the hundredth anniversary of American indepen- 

 dence. 



The continuance of the organ of our Society, the Canadian Entomologist, has also 

 contributed greatly to the maintenance of the interest felt in our Society. During the 

 past year important matters have been discussed in its pages, and a mass of new facts, 

 throwing light on the habits and life history of many of our insects, placed before our 

 readers. Much space has also been given to the important department of descriptive 

 Entomology. Indeed, I scarcely think we should be deemed presumptuous in saying that 

 our little journal is an important bond which does much to bind together the brotherhood 

 of Entomologists throughout America. 



The recent action of American Entomologists on the subject of Entomological nomen- 

 clature claims more than a passing notice. At the meetings of the Entomological Club 

 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held last month in Buffalo, 

 N.Y., this important subject was discussed and conclusions reached in reference to it 

 which. I hope, will greatly tend to the stability of our nomenclature, the great end and 

 aim whicli all parties claim to have in view. Amidst the conflicting opinions held by 

 leading Kutomologists on this subject, it was scarcely to be expected that entire unani- 

 mity could be secured ; but it was most gratifying to notice the conciliatory spirit mani- 

 fested by all, and the desire apparently as far as possible to meet each other's views. A 

 series of resolutions touching on important points was presented by the Committee named 

 last year to report on this subject, and on some of these they were unanimous, while on 

 others there was a divided opinion. Those rules which were unanimously adopted will, 

 it is understood, be strictly carried out by all who were present, whdo those on which 

 there was expressed a divided opinion will, in the meantime, be left to be acted on or not, 

 as the individual choice may dictate. Altiiough this does not leave the subject in as 

 satisfactory a state as entire unanimity wouhl have done, still it was felt that by the 

 action taken very much had been done towards settUng some of the disturbing elements 



