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143 



G R U P F. 



Animals which concern Man as being destructive to his 

 worked-up Products of Art and Industry, such as his 

 various (A) Buildings and larger Constructions and 

 Habitations, (B) Furniture and Books, Drapery and 

 Clothing, (C) Food and Stores. 



SUB-GEOUP A. 

 Teredos and Canadian Timber. 



A communication was received on 23rcl November, 1901, from 

 the Imperial Institute in regard to the wood-boring Teredos and 

 Canadian timber (Abies canadensis). In this communication the 

 following was stated : — " This Department has supplied full infor- 

 mation with reference to the general characteristics of the wood and 

 its mechanical properties. It appears, liowover, that other wood so 

 employed in South Africa is liable to be attacked by the Teredo 

 worm. The Canadian wood is known not to be readily attacked by 

 worms or insects of any description in Canada, but the question is, 

 does this particular worm occur in Canada ? " The following 

 replies were sent to the Institute : — 



(1.) The Teredo worm, one of the mollusca, attacks all manner of 

 wood. Canadian fir, judging from the specimens so frequently 

 washed up on the shores of England, Norway, etc., seems very liable 

 to the attack of Teredo. One species. Teredo megotara, Hanley, 

 found in England, both on fixed, floating and drift timber (especially 

 in Canadian fir), occurs in America. Stimpson described it as 

 {T. dilatata) infesting fixed wood and harbour buoys at Lynn, New 

 England. Tryon states that tliis species extends from Massachusetts 

 to South Carolina — it also occurs in Greenland and Iceland— so lias 

 a very wide range, as one would expect, being ti'ansported on floating 

 wood, aided by the Gulf Stream. 



I do not know any exact localities to give for Teredo in Canada, 

 but the one I mention and others occur there. 



It is surprising to find that Ahies canadensis is not subject to 

 boring mollusca in Canada, as drift wood of that fir appears particularly 

 prone to the attack of the pest. 



