has now increased to a considerable extent in many of our towns and cities, and occasional 

 flocks of them find their way into the country. While this fearless little bird has had 

 many advocates, the weight of evidence is undoubtedly against it, and it now stands con- 

 victed on several counts, — of destructive propensities, from the grain it destroys and 

 devours, and the injury it does- to fruit trees by eating the buds ; of pugnacity, which 

 results in its driving away other and more useful native birds, while on the other hand 

 the good it does in the way of consuming injurious insects, as proven by the examination 

 of the crops of many of them, is comparatively small. The question is often asked by the 

 friends of the sparrow, when the merits of this little emigrant are under consideration 

 '• how is it that we hear no complaints of its depredations in England where it has so long 

 been a common bird'?" Frequent complaints are made in England regarding it, and 

 measures urged for its destruction. In recent reports issued there, especially those pub- 

 published by that well known and talented authoress, Miss E. Ormerod, we find serious 

 charges recorded. One writer states that the sparrow has greatly increased in England 

 during the past ten years, that large flocks of them sweep down on the wheat fields 

 devouring and destroying a considerable propoi'tion of the grain. It is estimated that 

 one million pounds sterling would not repay the farmers of England for the yearly loss 

 sustained through the depredations of this quarrelsome pest. Besides the direct injury 

 thus occasioned, it is said tliat sparrows prevent the increase of swallows, and drive the 

 soft-billed insect-eating birds, which feed largely on the eggs and larvae of insects, from the 

 gardens and orchards, while they seldom eat a caterpillar. Another bears evidence of 

 having seen a field of wheat so utterly ruined by legions of sparrows that it was left 

 uncut ; and many other similar instances are cited. It is highly probable that we shall 

 in the future have many occasions to regret that this bird was ever introduced into 

 Canada. 



During the past year some interesting facts have been published bearing on the 

 retarding influences of cold on the development of insects, as seen in the Arctic regions. 

 These observations have extended over several years, and show that butterflies which, in 

 the warmer regions of the earth, pass through all their transformations once or more in 

 a season, take two or three years to complete a single cycle where the summer season is 

 very short and the prevailing temperature low. 



Besides the report of our own Society which contained much useful and practical 

 information, there has been issued in Canada since I last addressed you, a preliminary 

 report by the Dominion Entomologist, Mr. Jas. Fletcher, containing some useful records 

 of work done during the year, and plans for more extended usefulness in the future. It 

 is cause for sincere regret that our esteemed fellow-labourer has in consequence of a severe 

 affliction been obliged to postpone the completion of some of his cherished plans, and thus 

 the completion of work begun with much vigour and promise has been unavoidably 

 delayed. We sincerely hope that he may soon be entirely restored, and thus be enabled 

 to carry on with increased efficiency the work he has undertaken. In addition to the 

 excellent annual report of Miss Ormerod, which has already been noticed, there has been 

 issued in England a useful pamphlet on "insects injurious to hop plants", prepared for 

 the Agricultural Department of Great Britain, by Chas. Whitehead. This issue js to be 

 followed by others on grain, root and fruit crops, and it is sincerely hoped that tie issue 

 of these publications will awaken in the minds of the Agriculturists of Great Britain, a 

 livelier interests in the importance of the study of economic entomology. In the United 

 States much has been done. The Entomological Bureau in Washington, under the able 

 direction of Prof. Riley, has most efficiently continued its good work by investigating 

 insect pests in all parts of the United States, and in endeavouring to devise useful mea- 

 suies for their destruction. The reports issued during the past year have teen most 

 valuable, and are profusely illustrated. The annual report of Prof. Forbes, Sta/e Entomo- 

 logist of Illinois, is especially worthy of notice. Very excellent papers on/ Economic 

 Entomology have also been published by Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomolo|ist of New 

 York ; Prof. A. J. Cook, of Lansing, Michigan ; Prof. Hubert Osborn, of i.mes, Iowa, 

 and others. 



Mr. Win. H. Edwards, of Coalburgh, W. Va., has published a revised catalogue of 

 the Diurnal Lepidoptera north of Mexico, and has continued the publication in parts of 



