M3 
GROUP F. 
Animals which concern Man as being destructive to his 
worked-up Products of Art and Industry, such as his 
various (A) Buildings and larger Constructions and 
Habitations, (B) Furniture and Books, Drapery and 
Clothing, (C) Food and Stores. 
SUB-GROUP A. 
Teredos and Canadian Timber. 
A communication was received on 23rd November, 1901, from 
the Imperial Institute in regard to the wood-boring Teredos and 
Canadian timber {Abies canadensis). In this communication the 
following was stated : — “ This Department has supplied full infor- 
mation with reference to the general characteristics of the wood and 
its mechanical properties. It appears, howover, that other wood so 
employed in South Africa is liable to be attacked by the Teredo 
worm. The Canadian wood is known not to be readily attacked by 
worms or insects of any description in Canada, but the question is, 
does this particular worm occur in Canada ? ” The following 
replies were sent to the Institute : — 
(1.) The Teredo worm, one of the mollusca, attacks all manner of 
wood. Canadian fir, judging from the specimens so frequently 
washed up on the shores of England, Norway, etc., seems very liable 
to the attack of Teredo. One species, Teredo megotara , Hanley, 
found in England, both on fixed, floating and drift timber (especially 
in Canadian fir), occurs in America. Stimpson described it as 
{T. dilatatcc) infesting fixed wood and harbour buoys at Lynn, New 
England. Tryon states that this species extends from Massachusetts 
to South Carolina — it also occurs in Greenland and Iceland — so has 
a very wide range, as one would expect, being transported on floating 
wood, aided by the Gulf Stream. 
I do not know any exact localities to give for Teredo in Canada, 
but the one I mention and others occur there. 
It is surprising to find that Abies canadensis is not subject to 
boring mollusca in Canada, as drift wood of that fir appears particularly 
prone to the attack of the pest. 
