ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 

 By J. Dearness, London. 



Friends and Members oj the Entomological Society of Ontario : 



I have the honor this evening to welcome you to the thirty-fourth annual meeting of 

 the Society. By name, at least, I know of five other similar Societies on this continent : 

 the American, the Cambridge, the Newark, the New York, and the Washington. The 

 organization of only one of these, the first named, antedates that of our own Society. 



The thirty-fourth annual meeting ! To the younger members, who, but for a year or two 

 have been witnesses of the work done in these rooms, and who have been reading the reports 

 and the monthly issues of the Canadian Entomologist, it may be worth while to say that 

 there is evidence that each and every one of these thirty-four years has been characterized 

 by energy, progress and success, one almost equally with every other from the first until 

 now. 



The evidence is not far to seek, in fact we are overwhelmed with it. These shelves, 

 stocked with reports and volumes, filling two sides of the room, tiers of drawers and cases 

 of specimens, classified and catalogued, crowd us so that we scarcely have room for our 

 chairs. Very material evidence this, even on the surface, that busy men founded this 

 society and labored to promote its interests. In doing this great work two objects or 

 purposes conspicuously inspired them — devotion to science for its own sake, and the desire 

 to discover and disseminate knowledge for the sake of their fellow-men. No other 

 incentive seems to have had any existence in their minds. 



On the eve of removing from these rooms, where so much of the society's work has 

 been done, to more commodious and convenient quarters, it seems opportune to turn our 

 thoughts to the labors of the Society's veterans. We younger members cannot over- 

 appreciate the rich hei'itage left us by these pioneers, and we should be stimulated by the 

 contemplation of it to prepare ourselves to carry on the work in the spirit and enterprise 

 of the example they have set us. The events of the year give emphasis to this statement. 

 I presume only one person here can recollect attending an annual meeting before this one 

 from which our beloved friend, the late Mr. Denton, was absent. His kindly voice, and 

 that of another officer of this society, Capt. Gamble Geddes, of Toronto, have lately been 

 hushed in death. The thought of their passing and leaving the work here which they 

 had so much at heart suggests the desirability of the Society's compiling a memorial album, 

 with portraits and sketch of its founders and its most earnest and useful workers. 



A moment ago I said, "only one person here." I need not name him, as you all 

 know it must mean the venerable editor of the Entomologist, Dr. Bethune, of Port Hope. 

 Was he not at the inception of the society thirty -four years ago (in fact he and Dr.. 

 William Saunders, now director of the Dominion Experiment Stations, were its parents 

 in every sense), and has he not attended nearly every annual meeting since it3 inception 1 

 May that one be many a year distant when he shall cease to be present ; I can hardly 

 conceive what one would be like without him and Dr. Fletcher and the Rev. Mr. Fyles. 

 And although they all seem good for many years to come, yet you younger members 

 must prepare to take their places sometime. I trust that even now you are observing, 

 studying, reading — equipping to sustain and extend the good work so successfully begun. 



Much has been accomplished, a very considerable library has been founded, much 

 valuable material has been accumulated, a fairly complete taxonomy of the important 

 insects of Canada and the neighboring States, has been placed on exhibition, and thus a 

 foundation has been well laid that will enable future workers to specialize and to engage 

 in practical studies with definite purpose. 



