SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES. 525 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



MEKTINQ OP ENTOMOLOaiSTS. 



A highly interesting meeting of Entomologists was held on Friday evening, 

 September 26th, at the residence of Professor Croft, Yorkville, for the purpose 

 of taking into consideration the advisability of forming a club or society of 

 those engaged in the study of Insects. 



The following gentlemen were present : — The Rev. Prof. Hincks and Prof. 

 Wilson, of University College, Toronto ; Dr. Cowdry, York Mills ; Dr. B. R. 

 Morris, Toronto ; Thos. J. Cottle, Esq., Woodstock ; W. L. Lawrason, Esq., 

 B. Baynes Reed, Esq., and Wm. Saunders, Esq., of London, 0. W. ; and the 

 Bev. C. J. S. Bethune, Cobourg. 



A large number of specimens were exhibited by many of those present, 

 among which may be especially mentioned the varied and extensive coUectiou 

 of Prof. Croft. After these had been duly inspected, the attention of the meet- 

 ing was directed to the object for which it had been more particularly assem- 

 bled, viz., the formation of an Entomological Club. A discussion therefore 

 .Jkrose, in the course of which, while all concurred in the opinion that such a 

 . club would be very beneficial in many respects, it was agreed upon that, for the 

 present, no organization should be attempted, inasmuch as so few Entomolo- 

 „giBt8 were present ; but that efforts should be made to hold another meeting 

 next spring, about the time of the Annual Conversazione of the Canadian 

 .Institute. 



The advantages to be derived from such a club as that contemplated, are un- 

 doubtedly manifold and great. In the first place, the results of the investiga- 

 tions of Entomologists in various parts of the country would be made available 

 for mental information and assistance, and not confined, as hitherto, to a single 

 individual and his particular correspondents. In the next place, a complete 

 list of the various genera and species of Insects known to inhabit the country, 

 could in a short time be formed from the collected materials of isolated students, 

 and by this means reliable data be afforded on which to base further operations. 

 Again, encouragement would be given te those now almost disheartened by the 

 diflBculties of the pursuit. New votaries would soou be attracted ; and, in short. 

 Entomology would receive such an impetus as would raise it to the level of 

 other more favoured branches of science. 



That such beneficial results may be obtained, however, it is necessary that 

 there should be perfect unanimity with regard to the manner in which the ma- 

 chinery is to be set in motion, and that all should co-operate willingly and 

 heartily in the undertaking. Looking at the smallness of the number of those 

 •«t present engaged in the study of Insects in this country, such results may ap- 

 pear to many as but the fond aspirations of an enthusiast ; but when we con- 

 template what has been done elsewhere, and consider from what feeble begin- 

 nings some of the mighty societies in the Mother Country and abroad, derived 

 their origin, such anticipations are surely by no means visionary or absurd. 

 Let Entomologists only endeavour, — each one in his own locality, — to do all 

 that lies in his power for the furtherance of these designs, and they may feel 

 assured that success, beyond perhaps what they now imagine, will undoubtedly 

 crown their efforts. B- 



