10 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



and to stimulate them to become earnest workers. We are glad to know that these 

 learned friends, who have, in the past, done so muoh for our Society and for the study 

 of entomology, are still connected with us in the work which we are carrying on. Dr. 

 Bethune continues to be our efficient editor, and under his wise and careful direction our 

 publication continues steadily to improve, and to hold a foremost place in entomological 

 literature. Prof. Saunders, although called to a position making great demands upon 

 his time and .strength, still keeps up his interest in our special line of scientific work. A 

 few years ago he embodied his researches in that excellent treatise on " Insects Injurious 

 to Fruits," which, since its appearance, has been a standard work, and has had a very 

 large circulation throughout North America. 



One of the most useful and important features of the earlier volumes was the com- 

 pilation by Dr. Bethune, from Kirby's Fauna Boreali- Americana, of the "Insects of the 

 Northern Parts of British North America " (afterwards republished as a separate vol- 

 ume), which placed the descriptions of a great many of our insects in the hands of 

 students who might not otherwise have been able to obtain them, the original publication 

 being very rare. 



Before commencing this address I made a list of some fifty Canadian contributors,, 

 the majority of whom still continue to send in valuable papers. Several, however, have 

 passed to the " Happy Hunting Ground " beyond the '' Great Divide," while others have 

 either removed from the Dominion, or through pressure of business and new occupations, 

 have ceased to contribute ; though in some cases still keeping up their collections and 

 their interest in the study and work of the Society. My intention is not to go at length 

 into the writings of individual members, nor can I make any reference to the many valu- 

 able papers specially prepared for the Annual Reports furnished to the Ontario Govern- 

 ment. But I shall tiy to bring my subject before you in two ways: first, from a 

 geographical standpoint, that you may see in what districts our insects have been studied ; 

 secondly, from a systematic point of view, that you may see which orders have received 

 attention, and which have been, in whole or in great part, neglected. 



As our Society is provincial, in so far as regards its name and the liberal support 

 which it annually receives from the enlightened Legislature of Ontario, so the larger por- 

 tion of the work accomplished by it has naturally related to the insects of the Province 

 in which it was organized and by which it is sustained. A good starting-point for our pro- 

 posed tour of inspection will be London -the beautiful city in which we are now met, and 

 which, as the headquarters of the Society, has been for many years the Entomological 

 Mecca to which we annually resort to renew our strength and zeal in the good work, and 

 to arrange our plan of campaign for the coming year. 



Here Prof. Saunders toiled for many years, and, with the later assistance of his sons, 

 made most extensive collections. His papers do not, however, include any lists of the 

 species which he collected in the various orders, and the same remark may apply to 

 Messrs. Denton, E. Baynes R%ed, Williams and others whose captures have so largely 

 enriched the collections of the Society. The London members, however, had for many 

 years almost the entire management of affairs of the Society, and the preparation of the 

 Annual Reports, the arrangement of the collections, the care of the library, etc., occupied 

 much time that might otherwise have been devoted to special lines of research. 



At Grimsby Mr. J. Pettit, in the earlier years of the Society, was a very skilful and 

 assiduous collector, and his list of the coleoptera taken in that neighborhood, which he 

 commenced in che first volume, is one of the most complete local catalogues yet published 

 in Canada. The Hamilton district has been investigated by such competent collectors as 

 Messrs. Moffat, Murray, Johnston and Hanham. The first of these gentlemen has made 

 many valuable contributions to our publications, and is now continuing his good work in 

 London, where he has the charge of the collections and library. Mr. Geo. Noiman, of 

 St. Catharines, published a very interesting list of the Noctuidie captured there by him. 

 At Ridgeway we find a member of our Council, Mr. A. H. Kilman, who has made exten- 

 sive collections in what seems to be a very rich district ; but while he has added largely 

 to the knowledge of our insects, he has not yet published as much regarding them as we 

 should like him to do. 



