30 THE REPORT OF THE No. 36 



From 1868 until his death in 1892, Provancher devoted much of his time 

 and resources to the maintainence of his review "Le Naturaliste Canadien." 

 The editor filled with his own pen most of the 20 volumes of this publication 

 (nearly 8,000 pages). Apart from insect studies that were later published in 

 book form, this collection contains an elaborate classification of vertebrates, 

 a study on the birds of Quebec, vermes, etc. A volume on Mollusks was published 

 about 1888, and two years later two volumes of travels, one to Jerusalem, the 

 other to the West Indies. 



Besides all these occupations Provancher found time to contribute regularly 

 to such weekly papers as "La Minerve" and "La Gazette des Campagnes." 

 These articles discuss a great variety of subjects, especially agricultural and 

 educational. Sometimes he severely criticized public authorities, for instance 

 when the government cut off the annual grant given by previous administrations 

 for sustaining the "Naturaliste Canadien." The life of the publication was 

 seriously menaced three times by such decisions; in 1880, 1883 and again in 

 1890. 



Provancher's activity never knew any limit and left its distinctive mark in 

 many fields. He was known as a very successful organizer, as well in building 

 churches, as in organizing two Canadian pilgrimages to Jerusalem, and 

 promoting a steamship company, etc. In 1888, he started a new publication, 

 "La Semaine Religieuse" a weekly review that is still in existence. During his 

 life he had the pleasure of seeing a large group of learned men interested in 

 natural sciences, many of them being his own disciples, whose studies he directed 

 personally. Such were: Canon Huard, his successor as editor of "Le Natural- 

 iste Canadien," and now curator of the Public Museum, Quebec; Abbe Laflamme, 

 late professor of natural history at Laval University and a geologist of wide 

 reputation; F. X. Belanger, entomologist, late curator of the Zoological Museum 

 of Laval University; Dr. Crevier, microbiologist; Dr. St. Cyr, geologist, and 

 many others. 



When Provancher died at Cap Rouge, March 23rd, 1892, at the age of 

 72, he could see the realization of the dream of a life time; the natural sciences 

 being then taught in all the colleges and many young men interested in various 

 branches of nature study. 



He has been honoured by Laval University with the degree D. Sc; he was 

 a charter member of the Royal Society, and member of many European and 

 American scientific societies. 



His three collections of insects may be found at the College de Levis and 

 at the Quebec Public Museum. All other specimens collected by Provancher 

 have been kept with care by Rev. Canon Huard, who for the last thirty years 

 has kept alive the memory of the Canadian Linnaeus. 



RELATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND TAXONOMIC STUDIES IN 



SYRPHID^* 



C. Howard Curran, Ottawa 





With regard to the relationships between the biological and taxonomic 

 aspects of entomology, it is hoped that the question as here dealt with will not 

 be considered in general as laying down any definite policy which must be followed. 

 It is my hope that the subject is treated in such a manner that the suggestions 



Contribution from the Entomological Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. 





