14 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Much has been done of late years by entomologists through the 
importation of parasites from the native lands of certain noxious insects 
into other countries where the immigrant species had become severely 
injurious owing to the absence of its natural enemies. The most famous 
instance of this good work is the preservation of the citrus fruit industry 
ot California from destruction by the Fluted Scale (Zcerya Purchasi), 
through the introduction from Australia of the Coccinellid beetle or 
Lady-bird (Vedalia Cardinalis). This was the most remarkable of the 
many wonderful successes achieved by the late Professor Riley. The 
Lady-bird has since been transported to Egypt, Cape Colony and Portu- 
gal and in each instance has proved a complete check upon the ravages 
cf the Fluted scale insect. Work of a similar character is still going on, 
but we cannot expect to chronicle very often the results of an experi- 
ment carried out on so large a scale and rewarded with such brilliant 
success. 
The study of bacterial and fungous diseases with a view to their em- 
ployment as a natural method of preventing the undue multiplication of 
noxious insects has engrossed the time and thought of several able 
workers in the field of economic entomology. Already a considerable 
amount of success has been obtained in the case of the Chinch-bug and 
the Western locust, but it is obvious that a difficult and extremely deli- 
cate work is involved in dealing with these microscopic organisms and 
that we cannot look for very speedy results. We have every reason, 
however, to hope that patient investigation and painstaking experiment 
will in due time reap a plenteous reward. 
In this country the progress of entomology, especially in its 
economic application, continues to be steady and satisfactory. The 
membership of the Ontario Society, with its branches in Montreal, Que- 
bec and Toronto, has largely increased during the last few years and 
much good work has been done of both a scientific and practical char- 
acter. In Alberta a new organization has been formed, the Northwest 
(Canada) Entomological Society, whose chief object is the instruction of 
the farmers throughout that vast region regarding the insects and weeds 
that affect their fields and gardens and the best methods of dealing with 
them. Mr. Percy B. Gregson, of Waghorn, the energetic President, is 
giving monthly lectures of a popular character to school children and 
their parents, and occasional addresses to gatherings of farmers and 
meetings of agricultural societies. Several of these papers are being 
published in the Farmers’ Advocate and widely distributed throughout 
Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. The information thus im- 
parted regarding the habits of the most common noxious insects and the 

