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attended that organization from the happy choice of such men as Messrs. C. V. Kiley and 

 A. S. Packard as directors, has perhaps done more than anything else to open people's 

 eyes to the fact that after all there is something in Entomology. In Canada, too, much 

 good work has been done. In 1868 two Entomological magazines were started, our own 

 important organ, the Canadian Entomologist — in August, for Ontario ; and Le Natur- 

 alist Canadien, edited by the Abbe Provancher, in December, for Quebec ; to these is 

 chiefly due the progress the science has made in Canada. The editors of the Canadian 

 Entomologist — Rev. C. J. S. Bethune (1868-1873), and since that time our present 

 esteemed editor — have always by their many charming and descriptive papers evinced a 

 desire to make the study of Entomology as fascinating and easy as possible for beginners, 

 while at the same time they have paid full respect to their scientific readers. Le Naturalist 

 Canadien is published in the French language. It was commenced in December, 1868, 

 from which time the Abbe Provancher has fought bravely, and almost single-handed, 

 against all obstacles, striving by its means to create among the French Canadians a love for 

 the natural sciences, particularly Entomology. I am very sorry to see by the 

 December number, that on account of the grant which the Editor received from the 

 Government having been discontinued, his valuable work may possibly be stopped : this 

 would be a great pity, and every Entomologist ought to give a hand in helping him out of 

 his difficulty. The magazine has been of great value to the farmers of Lower Canada, 

 who in its pages have always received courteous answers on any subjects in the many 

 branches of natural history affecting agriculture. 



In the eleven volumes of the Entomologist now published, or in the Annual Reports 

 of the Society, descriptions of nearly all the common Canadian insects, and illustrations 

 of many of them, will be found. I would particularly call attention to a paper in the 

 Annual Report of 1872 by Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, entitled "Beneficial Insects." This 

 gives an outline sketch in a concise manner of the different divisions into which insects are 

 divided and the distinguishing points of each. 



With the above mentioned volumes and Dr. Packard's Guide to the study of insects, 

 a very complete knowledge of the rudiments of entomology can be obtained ; the rest can 

 only be learned by observation and experience in the field. Undoubtedly the first and 

 most important step of all is to commence a collection. Study can only be carried on 

 satisfactorily from the actual specimens, which should be examined alive whenever 

 possible, and full notes taken of any striking peculiarities observed ; when preparing 

 specimens for the cabinet, the one idea which has to be born in mind, and upon which the 

 whole value and beauty of the collection depends, is that they may appear natural, and a 

 knowledge of how to effect this can only be attained by observing living specimens. 



The Calosomas or Caterpillar-Hunters. 



These insects belong to the family called Carabidod, which is a large and difficult 

 family to study, or even to define and limit exactly. The insects belonging to it are re- 

 markable for their graceful forms, and at the same time for their cruel and predacious 

 habits, both in the larval and perfect states. It is this last trait which makes them such 

 useful auxiliaries to the horticulturist. 



The better known of the two represented here is called Calosoma 

 calidum, Fabr., (fig. 1) or " The Glowing Beautiful-bodied Caterpillar- 

 hunter." As an exception to the general rule, its English name is more 

 formidable than the Latin j but so important a personage is its bearer 

 that I will not deprive him of a single letter of his title, and indeed 

 am almost tempted to add to it the words " most useful." It well 

 merits its appellation, Calosoma {Kalos — beautiful, and Soma — a body 1 

 Fig. 1 gives a life size representation of it. The colour of the polished 

 elytra or wing-covers is a deep blue-black, and the six rows of dots 

 with which they are adorned are of a fiery burnished red, for which 

 reason it has been called by the specific name of calidum. The legs in 

 our figure are two thick and clumsy, but it must be well known to 



