19 



Mr. W. Hague Harrington stated that the appearance of the moths had been very 

 noticeable at Ottawa at almost the same date as they were observed at Port' Hope. The 

 first week of October had been comparatively wet, with calms and light winds varying 

 from east through south to west. Sunday, 9th October, had been a remarkably mild day, 

 and on that evening the moths had swarmed at some electric lights. On the following 

 morning he had observed upon the front of the Ottawa Bank a great number of moths, 

 at least 250 or 300. The building faced the north, being situated opposite the Parliament 

 Square, and had in front of it an electric light. Moths were also seen at several points 

 in the city, but not in any great number. From the fresh, unrubbed condition of all those 

 seen he then thought that they could not have flown far, and that possibly they might 

 have been bred upon some of the plants on the Government grounds. Since hearing Mr. 

 Bethune's paper, however, he was more inclined to favour the migration theory. 



Mr. J. Alston Moffat reported that on Friday night, 7th October, immense swarms 

 had appeared at Hamilton. He was informed by a friend that on that evening they had 

 been around the electric lights literally in millions — the number being so great that he 

 could not attempt to give an idea of them, other than by saying that all the insects 

 previously observed by him were as nothing in comparison. Mr. Moffat visited the 

 section of the city where they had been most numerous, on the following afternoon, and 

 found the ground for a space of several yards around each electric light pole covered with 

 these insects, every inch having at least one moth. Immense numbers had been crushed 

 under foot, but the rest were lively, and darted off in their accustomed manner when 

 disturbed. That night they were very abundant, but Sunday evening was wet and their 

 numbers were lessened. 



Mr. J. M. Denton said that in London the moths had not been observed, although 

 there was an electric light quite near his house. 



After the discussion the general opinion of the meeting was that a migration seemed, 

 indicated, and it was resolved that endeavours should be made to find out if the moths 

 had been observed at points intermediate between Canada and the Southern States. 



Mr. Fletcher exhibited some beautiful paintings, kindly loaned by Mr. Scudder, of 

 four species of Thecla, viz., strigosa, acadica, calanus and Edwardsii, and he also showed 

 specimens of several species of these butterflies, and pointed out the points of distinction 

 or affinity. 



It being one o'clock, the meeting adjourned until 2.30 p.m. 



The afternoon session opened by the reading of a paper contributed by Prof, E. W.. 

 Claypole, " Suggestions to Teachers on Collecting and Preserving Insects," followed by 

 two by Capt. Gamble Geddes, on " Several Remarkable Captures during the Summer of 

 1887 in Ontario," and " ISTotes on the Genus Argynnis whilst Alive in the Imago State." 



SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 



INSECTS. 



BY E. W. CLAYPOLE, AKRON, OHIO. 



In a short paper which appeared in the Canadian Entomologist in July last, I 

 mentioned my own experience on the value of gasoline for killing insects for the cabinet.. 

 The hints then given were not intended to be of service to professional Entomologists, if 

 there are any such persons, or to amateurs possessing abundance of time and means, but 

 to students and to teachers with whom time is short. I pointed out its superiority over 

 chloroform and cyanide of potassium in rapidity of action and in safety, while its use is 

 attended with no injurious effect on the specimens. I now wish to add a few words with 

 especial reference to the preservation of collections after they have been made. 



Here, too, I desire to make it plain at the outset that these hints are also intended 

 mainly for the hard worked teacher or professor whose attention is probably distracted 



