454 APPENDIX I 



The close proximity of the wooded section in the more southern 

 portion and the narrowness of the so-called Arctic Zone causes 

 it to be inhabited during the summer by many species from the 

 strictly Hudsonian area to the west and south, even though condi- 

 tions are not favourable for their permanent existence. Botan- 

 ically the two zones are quite clearly denned, but from an entomo- 

 logical standpoint it would be difficult to draw the line. 



Taking the country as a whole, the two hundred and forty 

 recorded species probably represent less than thirty-five per cent 

 of the insects which will be found to inhabit this region. It is 

 somewhat difficult to make an estimate of the number of species 

 in the more northern latitudes, where the tendency is toward vast 

 numbers of individuals and few species, and where the insects 

 with incomplete metamorphosis are poorly represented. There 

 are, however, many reasons for considering that our knowledge 

 of the insects of Labrador is very imperfect. The country with 

 its comparatively rich flora (over five hundred species) presents 

 quite favourable conditions for insect life, a fact which is shown 

 by the large number of species recorded from the so-called Hudson 

 Bay region, and the tendency of species in northern latitudes to 

 extend entirely across the continent. There has been an almost 

 total neglect of the Diptera, or flies, the order most prevalent in 

 boreal regions, only fifteen species being recorded, while from 

 Alaska, for example, two hundred and seventy-six species represent- 

 ing one hundred and thirty-eight genera and thirty-six families 

 were obtained by Professor Trevor Kincaid of the Harriman expe- 

 dition during the summer of 1899. 



Under each order will be given a brief account of our present 

 knowledge of the insects of this region, with notes on their habits, 

 distribution, and other features of general interest. 



I am indebted to Mr. H. H. Newcomb for the loan of some 

 butterflies, to Mr. J. A. Cushman for photographs, and to Miss 

 L. R. Martin for drawings illustrating this article. 



The Diptera, or two-winged insects, comprise what are popu- 

 larly known as flies, midges, gnats, and mosquitoes. .1 have stated 

 that this is a very much neglected order, but I am told that they 

 never neglect the visitor; in fact we would probably know more 

 about the flies of Labrador if they were not quite so attentive. 

 They constitute the most annoying, and at times an almost' un- 

 bearable, feature of the short summer, nature seeming to strive 

 to make up in individuals what it lacks in species. It seems 

 remarkable that insects can increase in such numbers in so short 

 a time, and under conditions apparently so unfavourable, but 

 cold does not seem to hinder the development of certain species. 

 Professor John B. Smith, in his work on the mosquitoes of New 



