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useful. An excellent chapter is given upon injurious and beneficial insects, enumerating 

 some of what we should call the first class pests and giving the most approved remedies. 



The other work to which I wish to draw your attention is Mr. Scudder's, " Butterflies 

 of the Eastern United States and Canada." This magnificent work, of which I have here 

 an advance copy of the first part to show you, is the result of twenty years' constant 

 study by one of our best Entomologists upon a single subject. No work has ever 

 appeared in any country upon a single branch of science where such thorough and complete 

 information is given of the objects discussed, nor which has been so lavishly and accurately 

 illustrated. The technical descriptions are very long and carefully worded, which gives 

 them a special value. Descriptions of insects are sometimes too short, the object of the 

 describers being only to give such facts as will lead* to the infallible identification of the 

 species. In Mr. Scudder's work the excellent illustrations will accomplish this end, and 

 the descriptions have been made use of by the author for recording systematically in one 

 place, every available item of knowledge, even to the most minute structural detail. 

 These will be studied with avidity by all specialists. The work is to be lightened 

 throughout by the introduction of a series of descriptive essays upon all the interesting 

 problems which arise in the study of butterflies. 



At the beginning of my address I drew your attention to the increasing popularity 

 with which entomological studies were regarded at the present time, and in the name of 

 the Society I thank you for your presence here this evening. We take it as no small 

 compliment that the honourable Minister of Agriculture for Ontario should take the 

 trouble to come all the way from Toronto on purpose to attend our meeting, and we beg 

 to publicly thank him, and also Mr. John Lowe, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture for 

 the Dominion, for this manifestation of their interest in our Society, which will doubtless 

 be of much benefit to us. 



Personally, ladies and gentlemen, I beg to thank you for the patience with which 

 you have listened to me in laying before you a statement of the work we are now doing 

 and hope to do in the future, and I trust your verdict will be that the Entomological 

 Society of Ontario is doing good work of general utility to the country at large. 



JAMES FLETCHER. 



During the discussion which followed the address the President begged leave to add 

 a few words with reference to a subject which he had inadvertently omitted. It was 

 not upon insects, but was intimately connected with economic entomology. Referring 

 to the introduction of the English sparrow he spoke as follows: — A subject demanding 

 immediate attention at the hands of economic entomologists, as one of the influences 

 which materially affect the amount of insect presence, is the great and rapid increase in 

 the numbers of this bird. Introduced into Canada but a few years it has already 

 increased in some places to such an extent as to be a troublesome pest, and steps should 

 be at once taken to exterminate it. I am perfectly aware that some will oppose this view. 

 Many from sentimental and so-called humane but mistaken motives, urge strongly the 

 claims of these audacious little miscreants as useful insectivorous birds. After a careful 

 investigation of the matter, however, I am fully satisfied that, although during the 

 breeding season they do undoubtedly destroy many soft bodied insects as food for their 

 young, this good office is by far outweighed by the harm they do in driving away truly 

 insectivorous birds, and by their direct ravages upon grain crops. Now, this question 

 is one of great inportance and no matter of mere sentiment. If these birds are to any 

 great extent insectivorous, it would be extremely rash for a society like ours, whose 

 object is to preserve crops from the attacks of insects, to recklessly advocate the destruc- 

 tion of their natural enemies. I shall not dwell further upon this subject, as an elaborate 

 paper has been prepared upon their habits by Mr. W. E. Saunders, who is well qualified 

 for the task ; but I believe their introduction into North America was a mistake which is 

 deeply to be deplored. 



