ENTOMOLOGICAL. SOCIETY OF CANADA. 261 



B.pophysis directed backwards (the articular apophysis) under which is fixed the 

 extremity of the ray belongiog to the same seg-ment. 



This bony element, the nature of which has been hitherto misunderstood, must 

 be regarded, according to my view, as the homologue of the little bony nodule 

 found in the fin at the separation of the bases of the two parts of each ray. 



As to the mechanism by means of which the attachment of the disk is accom- 

 plished, it is easily apprehended when one has considered the arrangement of 

 the parts of this little apparatus. Each ray (of the transformed fin) in fact serves 

 as a support for one lamina of the disk. It is capable of moving upon its an- 

 terior extremity as if upon a hinge, and consequently of inclining forward or 

 backward, the lamina to which it belongs. This double movement is secured by 

 means of little muscles which are inserted, at one extremity, on an apophysis at 

 the base of the rays projecting at the lower face of the disk, at the other on the 

 interspinous bones of the neighbouring segments. These muscular bundles cor- 

 respond with the elevators and depressors of the rays of the fins . 



It is easy to demonstrate by a very simple geometrical construction, that when 

 the lamellas of che disk are erected, the space which they enclose is increased ; 

 the air included is consequently rarified within this space, and as all communi- 

 cation with the exterior is stopped by the cutaneous fold which borders the disk 

 ■an effect of suction is produced which may be^ in every respect, compared with 

 th&t of the cupping glass. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



An ordinary meeting of this society was held at the residence of the President, 

 J H. Sangster, Esq., M.D., Yorkville, on Friday, March 1st, at 7 o'clock, p.m. 

 Frequent showers of rain, accompanied by lightning — an unusual circumstance 

 so early in the year— rendered the attendance very limited indeed. The Pres- 

 ident took the chair, and the minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 1866, 

 and a Field Meeting held on the 1st of June, were read and adopted ; the Fenian 

 raid, which called away many of the members to -their duty as volunteers, and 

 the threatened attack of cholera, which engrossed the attention of others, pre- 

 ivented any subsequent meetings being held. 



A communication was read from the Hon. James Cockburn, Solicitor General 

 West, in reply to an application for a grant from Government in aid of the 

 funds of the Society, stating that the Finance Minister could not recommend 

 any fresh grants for scientific objects, as the country was on the eve of Confed- 

 eration. It was resolved that further application should be made as soon as the 

 •Confederation of the Provinces has taken place. 



Mr. W. H. Ellis, of University College, Toronto, was proposed and unani- 

 mously elected an ordinary member af the Society. 



To the Library, 



From the Author, — " Synopsis of the Diptera of the Eastern Archipelago," 

 and " Characters of undesmbed specieii of Smiem XCAalcidites\" by F. Walker, 

 Ssq., FX.S. 



