MEETING OF THE SOCIETY IN APRIL

A meeting of the London members of the Entomological Society of Ontario was held in the rooms, Victoria Hall, London, on Friday evening, April 11th, 1890: the president, Rev. C. J. S. Bethune in the chair. The following resolutions were adopted:

That with a view of increasing the usefulness of the Society and furthering the study of Natural History and the kindred sciences it is desirable to follow the method of the Canadian Institute and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and permit sections to be formed for the various branches of Botany, Ornithology and Oology, Microscopy, Geology, and such others as may from time to time appear to be desirable. The basis proposed is as follows:

1. All members of the sections shall be members of the Entomological Society and be governed by ite rules and regulations and entitled to all its privileges.

2. Any five members may, with the permission of the Council, form themselves into a Section devoted to some special branch, and organize the same, appoint officers and make rules for the meetings, etc., the same not being contrary to the rules of the Society.

3. One-half of the annual fee of each member of a section shall be refunded by the Entomological Society to the Treasurer of that section for the use and benefit of the section.

4. All members of the Society shall be free to attend any meeting of a section and take part in its discussions, but only those shall be entitled to vote who shall have signed the roll of that particular section. 5. A member may elect to be member of one or more sections, but the one-half of the fees returned by the Society can only be paid to one section.

That it is desirable in the interests of the Society that some one should be found who would keep the rooms open daily and be in charge thereof.

The meeting then adjourned.

ORGANIZATION OF SECTIONS.

The following report is taken from the London Free Press, of May 5th, 1890 A most enthusiastic meeting of Naturalists was held in the rooms of the Entomological Society on Saturday evening, for the purpose of organizing sections of the Society for the purpose of active work in the kindred branches of natural history. Section: were formed in Botany, Ornithology, Geology and Microscopy, with the following chairmen pro tem:-Botany, John Dearness; Ornithology, William Saunders; Geology, Dr. Woolverton; Microscopy, Prof. J. W. Bowman. Evenings were selected for organizing the sections and the meeting then adjourned. The Botanical section met at once and elected officers as follows :— chairman, John Dearness; vice-chairman, Prof. J. H. Bowman; secretary, Dr. Susannah Carson. The following persons signified their intention of joining the section :-Dr. Jennie Carson, Mrs. W. E. Saunders, Miss Edith McMechan, Miss Fowler, Drs. Hodge and Woolverton, Messrs. E. B. Reed, A. McQueen, A. 0. Jeffery, S. H. Craig, Saunders, J. Balkwill, Kelley, A. Craig, R. Elliott and R. A. Gray.

The next meeting will be held on Saturday evening, 10th inst., at 8 o'clock, in the Entomological rooms at which it is expected there will be a large attendance of ladies as well as gentlemen. Mr. Dearness will give suggestions as to collecting and preserving plants, while the identification of plants collected dur ing the week will be an item of special interest. The Ornithological section meets to-night in the Entomological rooms and a general invitation is extended to all interested in the study of Ornithology and Oology to attend so as to make the organization complete at once and ready for the season's study.

ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE A. A. A. S.

The Entomological Club of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, assembled in the State House at Indianapolis, Ind., on Wednesday, August 20th, 1890, and began its regular sessions at 9 o'clock a.m., the President, Prof. A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich., in the chair.

There were present during the meetings: W. B, Alwood, Blacksburgh, Va.; Geo. F. Atkinson, Columbia, S. C.; W. S. Blachley; P. Carter; Prof. E. W. Claypole, and K. B. Claypole, Akron, Ohio; F. S. Earle, Ocean Springs, Michigan; S. G. Evans, Evansville, Ind.: James Fletcher, Ottawa, Ont.; H. Garman, Lexington, Ky.; Mrs. O. Hanney; C. W. Hargitt, Oxford, Ohio; Thos. Hunt; John Marten,

Albion, Ill.; Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt and Miss Augusta Murtfeldt, St. Louis, Mo.; W. W. Norman; Prof. Herbert Osborn and L. H. Pammel, Ames, Iowa; R. S. F. Perry; C. Robertson, Carlingville, Ind.; Prof. J. W. Spencer, Athens, Ga.; James Troop and Prof. F. M. Webster, Lafayette, Ind.; Dr. Clarence M. Weed, Columbus, Ohio, and others.

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

The President, Prof. A. J. Cook, delivered the following address on teaching entomology:

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Entomological Club.-I congratulate you that another year has passed, and our number has not been broken in upon by death. While our ranks have been much enlarged, no one has been called to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns. I also congratulate you upon the great increment in our force of working entomologists. I think I may say, with no fear of contradiction, that no year in the history of America has been so remarkable in this respect as has the last. This is a cause for special felicitation, not only to entomologists, but to all our people. Ours is a tremendous country-by ours I include, of course, our Canadian brothers, for we, as scientists, know no line of separation-and to spy out the entire land needs an army of workers or observers, all trained to keen sight and ready apprehension. But more than this the magnitude of our country is fully equalled by the magnitude of the insect hosts, and to know all of these, with their full life history, requires an incalculable amount of closest research. But our business economy demands this for all our species: for so wonderful is the balance of nature, so close the relations of all species of life, that really we may hardly divide insects into those important and those unimportant in our agricultural economy. All are important; and so from an economic, no less than a scientific standpoint, it is desirable that all such research be widely encouraged, and it is a most hopeful omen-the rapid increase of earnest and trained workers. I shall not in this address occupy time by giving the peculiarities of the season in respect to insects, nor yet call attention to interesting discoveries, like the importation of the Vedalia cardinalis, All these will be brought out in papers and discussions. I must, however, refer to the new association for the advancement of economic entomology, which was organized at Toronto a year ago, and which held its first meeting at Washington last November. This meeting, under the Presidency of Dr. Riley, was a valuable one; and that society promises much for the science of entomology, as well as for its economic development. It is also a matter of much interest that a new paperInsect News is started at that great centre of entomology-Philadelphia-which will also do much every way for our science. This, with the very excellent periodical Insect Life, published by the Entomological Division of the Department of Agriculture, can but give new impetus to entomological research. addition to these, we have an addition to Prof. Comstock's admirable work, which when completed will form a most valuable adjunct in the development of entomology. If we may judge from what we already have, this will be invaluable in every entomological laboratory. When the Society of Economic Entomologists was organized a year ago it was remarked by one of our first entomologists that that move sounded the death-knell of this Club. I then remarked that such ought not to be the case. That Society is to be composed only of those interested in economic entomology, and of course will only put emphasis in the direction of the practical aspects of the science; this more or less of entomologists in a wider sense, and so will include those interested in practical entomology and also in

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the science without relation to utility. The Club then may well continue. I believe it will live and thrive, and will be most helpful to entomologists and to our science. While the other Association will discuss economic questions, this Club will place no limit on either its discussions or its membership, only so far as entomology shall be its aim and purpose. No one doubts but that he who has a thorough training in the science of entomology will be far better prepared for practical work, and so there can be only the most cordial relations between the Association of Economic Entomologists and this Club. Indeed, many of our most active entomologists will be members of both. I have already stated the truism that only can he do the best practical work in entomology who is thoroughly well grounded in the general science of entomology. As we now have a great call for entomologists in our experimental stations, agricultural colleges, and as State entomologists, not to speak of the fact that every farmer and fruitgrower would be more successful if he were well-informed in this science, it goes without saying, that there ought to be in training men for just such work. It seems to me that it needs no argument to show that our agricultural colleges are just the places where this training should be given. They were founded to teach those subjects which would be most serviceable on the farm. Entomology is one of the chief of these. Thus it follows that every student of agriculture should have a thorough course in this science, with the practical aspect of the subject kept in the foreground. In thus presenting this science to large classes-I have from thirty to forty each year who study this subject in the course the teacher will find some in each class who are specially fitted to succeed. They enjoy the study and work most earnestly just for the love of the pursuit. They have quick observation, and are very accurate and honest in all their work. It needs no prophet to bespeak success in this field for such students. Our agricultural colleges are just the places to discover the men who have great possibilities in this direction; just the places to give the training that shall best fit men to do the most valuable work. It will be my purpose in the remainder of this address to describe the equipment for such work, and to explain the method which I believe will give the best results. Of first importance is a good library; this should contain all the standard works, periodicals and monographs, so that students who may decide to study any insect or genus, may find what has been written on the subject. Of course this cannot be had at once, but it is so essential that no effort should be spared to build up a complete entomological library at the earliest possible moment. True the scientist should study things, not books, but he will find a wide use of books most helpful in his study. Next to a library, such colleges should have good collections, which are often of more value than the library. A small show collection, illustrating the families and orders, and the several stages of the most injurious species of the place as well as the groups of beneficial ones should be open to the public. This will be studied and appreciated by the practical farmer, who, as he visits the college, will find it helpful, and will also interest and stimulate the under-class men, who will thus have their attention called towards insects before they commence the regular study, which will not occur till they are well along in the course. Drawing, botany, microscopy, and French and German, if thoroughly understood, will be great aids to the student who commences the study of entomology. Thus this study will come late in the course and the show collection will be whetting the appetite of the under-class men from the time they enter college until they commence the study. I would also have what I call a student collection—this is a pretty full collection from the locality of the college. This I would hang upon the wall of the lecture room, which I would have dark, except when in use, so as to preserve the colour of the specimens. I would have this in rather small cases,

with glass in front and also back where it is desirable, as in case of Diurnals, to study both under and upper sides of the wings. This collection should show at least types of each group in all stages, from egg to imago, as well as nests, cocoons, etc. This is an object lesson ever before the student, is ever ready for use by the teacher to illustrate his lecture, and is at the disposal of the students in naming their own collections or in closer study of any group. It seems to me such a collection should be in every college. Lastly, I would have a laboratory collection which should be a biological collection, and the fuller the better. This is in large, tight, glass-faced drawers. I use the Harvard case. This is for the use of teachers and post-graduates who desire to study further in the science. It is too valuable for general use by the student or to be kept to satisfy general

curiosity.

As I have before remarked, before the student commences the study of insects he should have had a good course in free-hand drawing, should have had instruction in the use of the microscope and in preparing microscopic specimens and slides, and if he has a ready use of German and French it will be very helpful to him in his study. It is also desirable that the student should have had a full course in botany. The students of our college have had three terms of botany, one devoted entirely to microscopic botany, before they begin the study of entomology. I consider this very valuable preparatory work. Entomology is very close precise work, and the laboratory work if carried on for a less space than three hours at a time is not satsfactory. But three hours of such close work is very wearying unless the student has had a fitting preparation. Thus I am pleased that our students have had vertebrate dissection with human and comparative anatomy and physiology before they commence entomology. I know this seems the reverse of the natural method; as nature proceeds from lower to higher; vertebrate dissection is lighter and less trying to eye and brain than is the study of insect anatomy; thus I am pleased to have Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates precede that of the Arthropoda in our course. In our college the student attends a course of sixty lectures on the anatomy and physiology of insects, systematic entomology and the economic bearing of the subject. These lectures are illustrated by use of models, the student's collection of insects, already referred to, by microsocopic preparations, mostly prepared at the College, and elaborate charts and drawings also prepared specially for our use. In connection with this course there are 36 hours of laboratory. Each student works three hours one day each week for twelve weeks. In this time they are able to study the internal anatomy, and to examine carefully and accurately one insect of each order. In connection with this several insects are traced to the genus by such keys as Leconte and Horn, Cresson, Williston, etc. Besides the above, each student makes a collection of from ten to twenty-five insects of each order, all neatly put up with date and locality label; each order by itselt and all labelled as far as time will permit. Many students succeed in naming a large number of their specimens. Each student is also required to mount insects in all the approved

Small insects mounted on triangular pieces of cardboard or rectangles of cork with silver wires, while the larvæ are put in bottles of alcohol with rubber corks and also prepared by eviscerating and drying, while distended with air, in a heated oven. The students are also encouraged to prepare biological collections, in which they preserve the eggs, larvæ after each moult, pupa, cocoon, imago of both sexes, and of various sizes and the several variations. Some of our most enthusiastic students work out several such life histories, describing not only the separate stages, but the several parasites that work to destroy the insects. I regard this work as very valuable. It is excellent discipline for the mind and observation, gives accurate information of the most interesting kind, and arouses

enthusiasm for the study as nothing else can. It is such work as this that will tell for the future of entomological research, that will make entomologists, who will honour alike the fields of pure and applied entomology. But such study ought not and will not stop here. Post-graduates will avail themselves of the opportunities which such laboratories offer. Last winter during our long vacation-ours is an agricultural college and our vacations must needs occur in winter, when farm operations are largely at a standstill-I had ten special students of entomology in my laboratory, one from South Dakota, one from Indiana, one from Ohio, one from Japan, one from Wisconsin, and the others from our own State. Nearly all were college graduates. Six special students, all graduates from colleges, have spent the year in my laboratory in special entomological study as post-graduate students. It seems to me that such are the young men who are going to develop the entomology of our country. They are the young men who can and will do grand work in our colleges and experimental stations. These young men each take up some special family or genus of insects, to which they give the major part of their time and study. They collect in all orders and give special attention to biological work, tracing the life histories of insects, identifying as far as possible the insects they capture and trying to become familiar with entomological literature, so far as they are able. The students are mutually helpful to each other. As the laboratory may be said to be a sort of perpetual Natural History, or more accurately Entomological Society, thus the students become familiar with the general laboratory work, in fact, they each become a factor in some degree in carrying the work forward. Here I will close by explaining briefly the mode of our labaratory work, which differs in some degree from the admirable plan which Prof. Forbes explained at the Washington meeting of Economic Entomologists last November. Our labels give in compact space locality, date accession and species number. The accession number agrees with a number-serial number-in our accession catalogue for the special year. Thus, ac. 400 shows that the insect or insects bearing that label were the 400th collected during that season. The sp. number is given as the insect is determined, and is the number of the insect in the catalogue which we use. Thus, sp. 25 is "Cicindela purpurea," as the beetle is numbered 25 in Henshaw's catalogue of Coleoptera. In case the catalogue is not numbered, as is the case with Cresson's list of Hymenoptera, then we number it. We have a column in our accession catalogue for date, collector, person who named the specimen, and also for remarks. This last column is wide, and in it we can usually write all necessary information which we received in the collecting. If we are experimenting with or studying the insect, our notes are kept on cards. These are numbered to agree with accession catalogue, and are kept in serial order until we know the species when we add the species number as well. We now index the card and place it in its correct alphabetical position in our card collections. Thus we can very easily find our notes on any specimen, either by accession number or by the name of the species. This plan works well, and, it seems to me, is very economical in respect to time. Of course our students all see this scheme and become familiar with its workings.

HESSIAN FLY, WHEAT-STEM MAGGOT AND OSCINIS.

Mr. J. Fletcher presented some notes upon injuries caused by the Hessian Fly, the Wheat-stem Maggot and an undetermined species of Oscinis. He said that the note was presented with the object of eliciting further information upon. a subject which had proved of great interest to him. During the past season he had endeavoured to determine the number of broods of the Hessian Fly for the