112 THE REPORT OF THE [19 



was brought out in pellets and formed into a neat little embankment, or causeway, against 

 the wall, leading away from the entrance. They were a very orderly and peaceable 

 . family, and never annoyed any one, though passers-by were frequent along the gravel path 

 not a yard away, and up and down the stone step3 at the end of the nest. 



It cannot be too often repeated that bumble-bees are decidedly useful insects, and do 

 much good work for farmers and fruit-growers. Their hairy bodies are specially adapted 

 for carrying pollen from one blossom to another, and thus they are instrumental in 

 fertilizing many varieties of fruit-trees, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, etc., clover, red and 

 white, and various flowers, many of which would be unable to produce any seeds but for 

 the kindly offices of bees. 



THE NORTH-WEST (CANADA) ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The First Annual Meeting of the North- West (Canada) Entomological Society was 

 held at Lacombe, Alberta, N.W.T., in the Agricultural Hall on Tuesday, the 7th Novem- 

 ber, 1899. At the request of the President, the chair was taken by Griffin Fletcher, 

 Esq., J.P. 



Agriculturists were well represented. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting 

 were read and approved. Letters were read from Mr. J. A. Guignard (in the absence of 

 Dr. James Fletcher) ; Dr. L. O. Howard, of Washington; the Bishop of Calgary and 

 Saskatchewan : Dr. Sanson, of Banff; F. Oliver. Esq., of Edmonton, M.P., and a very 

 large number of other gentlemen interested in the work of the Society, expressing full 

 sympathy with its objects. 



The Chairman, in a few opening words, explained that the object of the meeting 

 was to popularise the Society amongst farmers, by showing the use of Entomology and 

 Botany, and that a number of gentlemen had written special letters with advice, which 

 would be read after the addresses on the agenda had been delivered. 



The Chairman then called upon the President, Mr. Percy B. Gregaon, to address the 

 meeting. (See page 114). 



The President then read an address by the Revd. C. J. S. Bethune, D.C.L., upon " The 

 Use of Entomology." 



An address from Mr. H. H. Lyman, M.A. , (the President of the Entomological So- 

 ciety of Ontario), was next read. 



The suggestion in Mr. Lyman's address as to affiliation of the North- West Entomo- 

 logical Society was discussed, and it was decided that at present affiliation was im- 

 practicable, owing to the somewhat original course adopted by the North- West Society, 

 (of which details appear in the Report of Council). 



An address by Dr. Henry George, M.R.C.S. (Eng), of Innisfail, Alta., on "The 

 Pocket-Gopher," (G. bursarius) was next read by the President. 



Numerous letters in support of the President's course of procedure were next read 

 from members of the Society, among them being a letter from The Bishop of Calgary, in 

 which His Lordship (after remarks as to the uphill -nork before the Society) advised 

 quarterly meetings, to which the public should be specially invited ; a letter from Mr. E. 

 Firmstone Heath cordially supporting the President's project of giving sketches of in- 

 sect life to the school children and parents, and of holding quarterly meetings for inter- 

 change of experiences; from Mr. A. W. Hanham, Mr. F. Oliver, M.P., Dr. N. B. 

 Sanson, of Banff, Alta., and several other gentlemen to the same effect. 



Mr. Hanham and Dr. Sanson suggested the formation of a " Naturalists' Club," but, 

 in view of the scattered community, it was decided to be impracticable at present ; but 

 that a suggestion by Mr. Heath that some kind of Natural History Periodical might be 

 published eventually by the Society, which would be circulated among the public, should 

 be seriously considered at the earliest opportunity. 



