—159— 



Dr. Peabody stated that he was sorry that Prof. Forbes was not 

 pr-isent to tell his own story, as he had used the kerosene emulsion with 

 success, but, as he remembered, the conclusion was that it would cost 

 too much per acre, to be of general service. 



Mr. James Fletcher gave a descriptive account of an expedition he 

 had made with Mr. S. Scudder to Nepison, North of Lake Superior, in 

 quest of the eggs of diurnal Lepidoptera ; but particularly for those of 

 Chionobas macounii, Ca7'tcrocephalus niandan, and Colias interior. This 

 expedition had been eminently successful. Not only had eggs been 

 procured of all the species mentioned, but of many others besides. An 

 account was given of the methods of capturing, caging and general 

 treatment which had given the best results. It was found most con- 

 venient to place all the cages near together in the woods, so that they 

 could all be visited and examined without loss of time, and also that fe- 

 males might be carried a long time in smaller boxes before caging. Eggs 

 had even been procured from Colias interior which had been sent from 

 Sudbury to Ottawa (323 miles) by mail in a tomato can. In speaking 

 of cages it was pointed out that these could be made with great ease, 

 Mr. Scudder had given most valuable suggestions in this line. Cages 

 for all small species can be made in a few minutes by cutting off the top 

 and bottom of a tomato can and then fastening a piece of netdng over 

 one end, either by slipping an elastic band over it or tying it with a piece 

 of string. The female is then placed in this over a growing plant of the 

 species the larvae are known to feed upon. These cages had answered 

 w^ell for all the skippers w^hich feed on grass, and the small Argynnides. 

 For such species as lay on the foliage of shrubs or trees bags had to be 

 tied over living branches, care being taken that the leaves were not 

 crowded up ; but that they should stand out freely so that the female 

 could lay, if such were her habit, either upon the upper or lower side or 

 the edge of the leaves. In this way eggs were obtained of Nisoniades 

 icrhis and Papilio turnus. Another cage for insects which lay upon low 

 plants and which is easily constructed, is to cut two flexible twigs and 

 bend them into the shape of two arches which are put one over the other 

 at right angles to each other with the ends pushed into the ground; over 

 this pent-house so formed a piece of gauze is thrown and the edges are 

 kept down either with pegs or earth laid upon them. This kind was 

 useful for larger insects than could be placed in tomato cans. In these, 

 eggs of Chionobus macounii, Colias eurytheme, etc. , were secured. 



Interesting notes were given on the habits of some of the species 

 collected, and the larvce of Carterocephalus mandan, Pamphila hobomok 

 and P. mystic were exhibited as well as specimens of Chionobas macoiinii 

 and Colias interior. Out of 19 species of Diurnals caged eggs had been 

 obtained from 17. 



(to bk continued.) 



