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INTRODUCTION *UKUIS*i 



Shortly after the Society was founded, three of our local entomologists, 

 while partaking of lunch under a large tree near Macdonald College, discussed 

 a subject that had been thought of many times before, namely, the need of a 

 published list of the Insects of the Island of Montreal. It was there and then 

 decided that if this could ever be accomplished our Society was the one to do 

 it — the actual work of compilation to be voluntarily done by the members of the 

 Society, with whatever assistance they could obtain from outside. 



As President I fell in at once with the suggestion, and in my first Annual 

 Address I laid before the Society the proposition, but altering and widening the 

 scope of the List to embrace the Insect Fauna of the whole of the Province of 

 Quebec. The Society unanimously concurred, and a committee was appointed 

 consisting of Messrs. J. M. Swaine, G. Chagnon and A. F. Winn to proceed with 

 the preparation of the List. 



After several rJieetings, the plan as outlined in our report for 1910 was 

 decided on and the latest edition (1909) of Dr. J. B. Smith's List of the Insects 

 of New Jersey adopted as a model. Owing to various causes, including the 

 removal of Mr. Swaine to Ottawa, it has been found impossible to make even 

 a fairly representative showing in some of the orders; so it was thought best to 

 issue it in parts as supplements to our annual reports — the present part com- 

 prising the Lepidoptera or Butterflies and Moths has been prepared by Mr. Winn, 

 on whose extensive collection, and over twenty years active collecting the List 

 is based. 



The other parts to follow will be of uniform size and style, and when com- 

 pleted, will contain a part dealing with Injurious Insects and the best ways of 

 controlling them, etc., and an Index. It is hoped that our list, though incom- 

 plete and imperfect like other first attempts, will prove useful to a great many 

 persons directly and indirectly interested in Insect Life; and it should form a 

 basis for future editions. 



In order to make the list as complete as possible we would welcome any list 

 of captures or even notes on single species of insects from any part of our Province, 

 and due credit will of course be given to the sender. In short, we need all the 

 help we can get and wish you to consider the list as partially contributed by you. 



