37 



with scarlet flowers, and set in the open yard, attracted most that flew near it. Papers in 

 southern Georgia noticed the great numbers passing at different points ; and a friend in 

 southern Alabama sent me specimens of the same, saying that they were subjects of 

 speculation there. About March, 1879, there was a similar migration from S.-E. to N.- 

 W, but in diminished numbers. I saw the fall migrations again Oct. and Nov., 1879, 

 but in smaller numbers than in 1878. A lady of southern Georgia told me that her husband 

 called her attention to the fall migration twenty-six years ago, and that she had observed it 

 every year since. C. eubule is found here in small numbers at other seasons of the year." 



In the course of the last two or three years several accounts have appeared in Nature 

 of the flight of Lepidoptera in large numbers. I observed a similar phenomenon in 1870, 

 which may present sufficient interest to be put on record. In the summer of that year, 

 in the month of August as well as I remember, I was crossing the harbour of this city in 

 the 3 p.m. trip of the steam packet-boat between the city and Moultrieville, on Sullivan's 

 Island, at the entrance of the harbour, a summer resort of the inhabitants of our city. The 

 distance is between four and five miles, and when about half way or perhaps two-thirds, 

 the steamer passed through an immense stream of butterflies crossing the harbour towards 

 the S.-W. They were all of the genus Callidryas, whether C. eubule or C. marcellina (if 

 indeed they be different species) I could not determine. The wind was light, and from 

 the rapid motion of the vessel, it was difficult to say whether the insects were aided or 

 opposed by it in their transit. As the vessel passed obliquely through the stream, their 

 rate of motion could not be determined, and the dimensions of the stream only roughly 

 estimated ; it seemed to be six or eight yards wide, about as many high, and extended a 

 hundred yards or more on each side of the vessel. Whence they came or whither they 

 went could not be ascertained ; they seemed to be crossing the harbour in a direction nearly 

 parallel to the general travel of the coast. 



Lewis R. Gibbes, Charleston, S. C. 



APPOINTMENT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST FOR NEW YORK. 



We learn with much pleasure that our esteemed friend and valued contributor, Mr. 

 J. A. Lintner, of Albany, N.Y., has received the appointment of State Entomologist. A 

 better qualified man for the position could not, we believe, be found. Mr. Lintner has 

 for the past thirty years devoted a large portion of his time to the study of Entomology, 

 and paid especial attention to that practical department of the science which treats of 

 insects injurious to agriculture. The enormous loss occasioned yearly by destructive 

 insects, is now well known, and every means discovered to prevent or lessen these ravages 

 results in a large yearly gain to the cultivators of the soil. The special business of the 

 State Entomologist will be to endeavour to ascertain how this desirable end can best be 

 accomplished. We anticipate good. results from this judicious appointment. 



OTTAWA FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 



TRANSACTIONS NO I. 



The records of the first year's efforts of this active and enterprising organization fill 

 a goodly octave pamphlet of sixty-two pages, which is adorned with two excellent plates. 

 From the annual report of the Council, contained therein, we learn that the Club has a 

 membership of over eighty, and that five excursions, for the purpose of collecting objects 

 of natural history, have taken place during the year, with an average attendance of thirty. 

 During the winter months a successful series of soirees were held, seven in number, at 



