170 



THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



The evidence recited by various speakers 

 went to show that while in a number of cases 

 the cotton moth bad been found sometimes 

 with crippled wings, far away from tbe cotton 

 belt, still no plant other than the cotton plant 

 had been discovered on which they could live. 



Before the meeting broke up, Dr. Hagen and 

 Mr. Henshaw, of Washington, gave interesting 

 accounts of their visit this summer to Wash- 

 ington Territor}^ for the purpose of collecting 

 and studying the insects of that region. 



The following American Entomologists took 

 a part in the proceedings, Prof. Comstock, 

 Ithaca, N.Y. ; R. Dodge, Washington ; Homer 

 F. Bassett, Waterbury, Conn. ; Prof. C. H. 

 Ferland, Orono, Maine. All had an exceedingly 

 pleasant time in examining the rare insects 

 which members brought there for identification. 

 We agree with Mr. Saunders that Entomolo- 

 gists should endeavor to devote more time to 

 investigate the life histories of insect parasites, 

 in order that farmers may be educated to dis- 

 criminate friends from foes ; we retain the 

 opinion that there are insect parasites follow- 

 ing every form from the hard shelled beetle 

 to the soft bodied spider, or even lower and 

 more minute forms of insect life. No one 

 thought of noticing the minute Hymenopterous 

 insect which destroys the chrysalis of the 

 Cabbage Butterfly, yet, the parasite is said to 

 have existed on this continent long before the 

 introduction of the butterfly into Canada. 

 Too much time have been given to the study 

 of large American insects ; many Entomolo- 

 gists look on minute forms of Ilymenoptera 

 and Diptera as significant, whereas these 

 creatures may turn out to be our friends, and 

 profitable to us. They are placed here for 

 some purpose, and their economy should be 

 studied. 



A subsequent meeting was called by Mr. 

 Lintner at the residence of Mr. Bowles, to 

 consider the formation of an Entomological 

 Club. The following gentlemen attended — 

 Messrs. W. Saunders; H. F. Basseit; Prof. 

 Riley ; Prof. McCook ; Rev. F. W. Fyles; H. 

 H. Lyman ; Prof. Claypole ; R. Dodge ; 

 Ernest D. Wintle ; G. J. Bowles and W. 

 Couper. Nothing definite was done regarding 

 the desired change, the feeling of a few 

 members tended to allow matters to remain as 

 they are at present. After a pleasant conver- 

 sation on other Entomological topics, all 

 parted with the hope of meeting again. — C. 



£orre$pcm6ence. 



ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



W. A. H., Sherbrooke —Maple trees have 

 been introduced into the United States and 

 Canada from many parts of the globe. Over 

 twenty varieties from Japan. Maple is popular 

 as shade and lawn trees in all American cities, 

 from sixty to seventy varieties are used. The 

 species which attracted your attention on 

 Drummond street is native; called the Silver 

 Maple (Acer dasycarpum). Its growth is rapid; 

 form irregular; foliage light, green, silvery 

 underneath ; very hardy and easily trans- 

 planted. It is one of the best avenue trees. 

 Three other species, viz — the Scarlet or Swamp 

 M. (A. sacchariniim) ; the Sugar or Rock M. 

 (A. nigrum), are used as ornamental trees in 

 the neighbourhood of Montreal. Ruffed Grouse 

 and allied northern species and the Ptarmigan 

 have the habit of burying themselves under 

 soft dry snow, but whether the former remain 

 long enough to be frozen in and perish, we 

 cannot say. Numbers of Ptarmigan have 

 been found dead in the woods of Labrador in 

 spring. They are supposed to have been 

 caught by a sudden frost making them 

 prisoners, and death ensued from starvation. 



Mr. John A. Morden, Hyde Park, Ont. — 

 The skins of the Lapland Longspur (P lapp- 

 onicus) have been received. They are care- 

 fuly made up and a credit to your art. Since 

 we stated that the species have not been 

 obtained in the Quebec Province, Mr. N. A. 

 Comeau of Godbout, informs us that he can 

 procure them every season at his place. We 

 will publish your observations on the breeding 

 habits of the Red-headed Duck, or any other 

 water-fowl found on the St. Clair Flats. — C. 



THE MONTREAL DOG FANCIERS- 

 ASSOCIATION. 



We have before us, the prize list and rules 

 for governing the first Annual Exhibition, 

 which takes place on the 18th, 19th and 20th 

 instant. The names of the officers for the 

 current year are as follows : — Major Thomas 

 A. Evans, President ; C. E. Gagnon, Esq., and 

 ffm. Mackenzie, Esq., Vice-Presidents; John 

 F. Campbell, Esq., Secretary ; James Lindsay, 

 Esq., Treasurer ; Dr. J. E. Nichol ; J. Nelson, 

 Jr., Esq., George Jordon, Esq., J. A. Pitt., 

 Esq., John Wilson, Sr. Esq., aud Sergt. B. T. 

 Holbrook are the Committee of Management. 



