ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



REPORT OF COUNCIL. 



The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario have much pleasure in present- 

 ing the following report of their proceedings during the past year : 



They have great gratification in stating that the work and influence of the Society 

 have been much extended, and its membership increased by the formation of Branches 

 in Toronto and Quebec. " The Toronto Entomological Society " was formed in February, 

 1896, with Mr. E. V. Rippon as president, and Mr. Arthur Gibson as secretary ; regular 

 fortnightly meetings were held and much enthusiasm was displayed by the members. 

 Towards the end of the year the desirability of affiliating with our Society was brought 

 before the members, and after full deliberation it was decided to join us on the first of 

 January, 1897, and to become a Branch of this incorporated Society in accordance with 

 the terms of our constitution. A few months later another Branch of the Society was 

 formed at Quebec through the exertions of our colleague, the Rev. T. W. Fyles, and 

 twenty more names were added to our roll of membership. The old established Branch 

 at Montreal is as vigorous as ever and continues to accomplish much good work. The 

 Society has now four centres for holding regular meetings and promoting the welfare and 

 extending the usefulness of the students of entomology in Canada It is to be hoped that 

 befor? long similar work may be carried on in the Maritime Provinces where little interest 

 has yet been shown in this department of natural science, but where a great deal of 

 important work could undoubtedly be done. 



The twenty seventh annual report on Economic and General Entomology was 

 presented to the Minister of Agriculture for Ontario in December last, and was printed 

 and distributed in the beginning of May. It contained one hundred and twenty-seven 

 pages and was illustrated with one hundred and three wood cuts and six full page plates. 

 With the exception of the first report (1870), it was the. largest volume yet issued by the 

 Society and contained more illustrations than any previous one. In addition to an 

 account of the proceedings at the last annual meeting, the report contains the annual 

 address of the president, Mr. John Dearness and the following interesting and important 

 papers : " Some insectivorous Mammals," by Mr. Robert Elliott ; " Notes on the Season 

 of 1896," by Messrs. Fyles, Fletcher, Bethune, Moffat and Gibsou ; "Entomology for 

 Rural Schoolp," and '■ Two Insect pests of 1896," (the Army- worm and Tussock moth) by 

 Prof. Panton ; " The importance of Entomological Studies to an Agricultural and Fruit- 

 Growing Community," and " Lepidopterous Pests of the Meadow and the Lawn," by the 

 Rev. T. W. Fyles; "Some beetles occurring upon Beech," by Mr. W. H. Harrington; 

 "The San Jose Scale " and " Warning Colours, protective mimicry and protective color- 

 ation," by Prof. F. M. Webster. 



The Canadian Entomologist, the monthly magazine published by the Society, com- 

 pleted its twenty-eighth volume in December last. Ten numbers of the twenty-ninth 

 volume have now been issued ; they contain 248 pages and are illustrated with eight full 

 page plates, several of them of great beauty, and a number of original wood cuts Amoug 

 the many valuable papers published may be mentioned the continuation of the series of 

 illustrated articles on the Coleoptera of Canada, by Prof. H. F. Wickham, which are most 

 useful to students of this order, and are specially designed to be of assistance to beginners 

 of the study of our beetles. It is with profound regret that the Council have learnt from 

 Prof. Wickham that he is obliged to abandon the study of systematic entomology on account 

 of trouble with his eyes, and they desire to express their deep sympathy with him in this 

 affliction which so seriously interferes with his valuable and important work. 



A number of interesting specimens of m iths new to the Canadian lists have been 

 ^dded to the Society's collection by the kindness of Mr. J. Bice who has been a diligent 

 collector at the electric lights in the city of London. 



In the latter part of November, 1896, the Society removed its head quarters from 

 the rooms it had occupied for over sixteen years in Victoria Hall on Clarence street to 

 more accessible, commodious and better lighted premises in the Young Men's Christian 

 Association fine new building on Wellington street. The cases of books and insects were 



