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THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
NI 
GH 
KINGSTON BRANCH. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
_ The annual meeting of the Kingston Branch was held at the office of 
the Secretary on the evening of April 11, Prof. Dupuis in the chair. The 
report of the proceedings of the Society for the last year (the first of its 
existence) was read, and, on motion, was adopted. Two new members 
were proposed for election. On motion, Prof. N. F. Dupuis was re- 
elected President, E.H. Collins, Esq., Vice-President, and R.V. Fe Ps 
Secretary-Treasurer. 
After the usual routine work, the members adjourned with the deter- 
mination that 1872 would see them more devoted and enthusiastic fol- 
. Jowers in the tracks of the insects hosts than ever. 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 
DETERMINATION OF SEX.—In view of the occasionally great dissimi- 
larity in the sexes (as now received) of several species of Lepidoptera, it 
would be interesting to know how many of these have been determined 
from the fact of copulation, seeing that evidence of this nature, although 
presumptively good, cannot be considered as complete proof that the 
sexes so seen 27 coitu are sexes of the same species. 
Almost évery one accustomed to the rearing of insects is Tone 
aware of this fact, but it does not seem to be very generally known ; and 
I am tolerably certain that the decision of a very eminent entomologist, 
(decision perhaps not yet made public), that 4. pocohontas is merely an 
aberrant female form of 77. Aobomok, is based entirely on the fact of 
copulation. But when two such clearly distinct species as Samia cynthia 
and Callosamia promethea (we will suppose the generic difference to amount 
to nothing), and species of such manifestly distinct genera as those of 
Epinephele and Vanessa will copulate, I think that we run no great risk in 
saying that copulation proves nothing, so far as the determination of 
species is concerned. 
Perhaps I should say that I have repeatedly witnessed the copulation 
of Cynthia and Promethea, and my information as to Hpimephele and 
Vanessa comes from a good source. But one instance is as good as a 
thousand. | 
It may be that a consideration of this incidental mingling of species 
