of or in spite of the inclement season. In this vicinity, from about May 10th to the present date, September 23rd, the Red Admiral butterfly (Pyrameis atalanta, Linnæus) has been unusually plentiful. It has not appeared in nearly such large numbers since the year 1905. A number of specimens were examined during May, and practically all of them were brightly coloured, and seemed to have recently emerged from the chrysalids. In comparison, only a few were doubtfully classed as hibernating forms. No doubt many factors, few of which are yet understood, control the production of each species of butterfly, but in all probability parasitism plays the chief role. This will account for a season with numbers above the average being succeeded by one with correspondingly low numbers in the same species, the year of plenty having produced ideal conditions for the increase of the parasites. During the season fewer specimens than usual were seen of the other species of butterflies, with perhaps the exception of the Viceroy (Basilarchia archippus, Cramer).

The "Spittle Insects," Fam. Cercopidae, were also very numerous. During July, in low-lying land, nearly every specimen of Red Top (Agrostis alba var. vulgaris, Thurb.) carried a mass of froth, indicating the presence of either the larva or pupa of the insect. With the purpose of testing the froth for the enzyme diastase, a large number of the masses were washed off into distilled water. The froth remained separate from the water until toluol was added; this seemed to alter the

surface tension, and the froth passed into solution. A small quantity of this solution was then placed in about an equal amount of starch paste, made of cornmeal, and left for a few hours. A test with Fehling's solution then showed that a comparatively large amount of the starch had been changed to sugar. Without further investigation it is rather premature to surmise the purpose of this sugar-producing enzyme, but it seems possible that it may have a pre-digestive effect on the starch of the host and thus convert it into a more soluble form for the use of the larva. Experiments, not yet complete, seem to indicate that stems, surrounded by the froth masses, do contain more sugar than an equal weight of unaffected stems.

Another species in the same family also appears to have been influenced favourably by the vagaries of the season. Dr. Walker has informed me that the Grape Vine Leaf-hopper (Typhlocyba comes) was very plentiful on the Boston Ivy (Ampelopsis veitchii). The leaves on which the insects were feeding had become pale and blotchy in appearance.

The Elm Bark Louse (Gossyparia spuria, Mod.) has not proven as serious a pest here as was apprehended on its first appearance. It now seems to be practically absent from certain streets, the trees of which were badly infested a couple of years ago. While it has killed some very small introduced elms, it has not injured the larger specimens materially, and the indigenous Ulmus americana, L., is not often attacked by it. Specimens of the Coccid (Kermes pubescens, Bogue) were not numerous this season. This insect causes a marked swelling and distortion of

the petioles and young twigs of its host, Quercus alba, L. In some cases these deformities are decidedly gall-like in character. Sections of these show an enlargement of the cells of the host without proliferation of the tissues. Not a single specimen of the Coecid (Kermes galliformis, Riley) was found during the year.

Fig. 12.-Oyster-shell Scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi): (a) Adult female, back
view, showing the two moulted skins at anterior end, and the
bristles of the sucking tube; (b) Adult female, turned over, showing
the insect at the anterior end and the eggs at the posterior end;
(c) Adult male scale, much smaller than female, with one moulted
skin at anterior end.

The small moth, Euclemensia bassettella, Clemens, appears to be checking the scale in this locality almost to the point of extinction. In former years, an average of about 25% of the specimens were found to be parasitized by this insect. In the apple orchards near the city the Oyster-shell scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi, Linn.) is

apparently becoming more destructive each year. This is probably due to the fact that little new stock has been set out, and the powers of resistance of the old trees are gradually diminishing. Further, diseased and useless trees are almost invariably left to act as breeding places for the insects and centres from which young stock can be infected.

Fig. 13.-Piece of Branch infested with Oyster-shell Scale.

REPORT OF THE.COUNCIL.

The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario begs to present its report for the year 1912-13.

The Forty-eighth Annual Meeting of the Society was held at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, on Thursday and Friday, November 23rd and 24th, 1911. There were eight members present from a distance, as well as a large attendance of the faculty and students connected with the College.

"Some

During the first afternoon, the reports of the Directors on the insects of the year were read and discussed; papers were read by Dr. G. G. Hewitt on Work of the Division of Entomology in 1911;" by Mr. L. Cæsar on "Insects of the Year in Ontario," and by the Rev. Dr. T. W. Fyles on "Notes on the Season 1911." Reports were read from the Montreal Branch, the Toronto Branch, the Librarian, Curator, and Delegate to the Royal Society.

In the evening a public meeting was held in the Massey Hall auditorium, which was well attended by members of the Society, students of the College and the Macdonald Institute, and visitors from the town. Dr. C. G. Hewitt gave a most interesting address on "Insect Scourges of Mankind," which was illustrated by many excellent lantern-slides. The chair was occupied by President Creelman of the College.

On the following day the Society met in the Museum of the Biological Department, where many interesting specimens were exhibited by the members. The Annual Address of the President, Dr. Walker, was then read, after which the election of officers for the ensuing year took place. In the afternoon the following papers were read: "Some Injurious Forest Insects at De Grassi Point, Lake Simcoe," by Dr. E. M. Walker; "Thrips Affecting Oats," by Dr. C. G. Hewitt; "The Stream," by Dr. T. W. Fyles; " A Hymenopterous Parasite of Hepialus thule," by Mr. A. F. Winn; "Injurious Insects of the Year, Macdonald College, Quebec," by

Mr. J. M. Swaine; "Insect Migration at Aweme, Man.," by Mr. Norman Criddle; "The Catalogue of Canadian Insects," by Dr. Hewitt; "Some Notes on Hepialus hyperboreus," by Mr. Horace Dawson; "Blister Beetles" and "The Entomological Record for 1911," by Mr. A. Gibson.

The Canadian Entomologist, the monthly journal of the Society, has been issued regularly each month. The forty-third volume was completed in December last; it consisted of 429 pages, and was illustrated by four full-page plates and many original drawings. The contributors numbered 59, and included writers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, Australia, many States of the Union, and the Hawaiian Islands.

Meetings of the Society were held during the winter months of 1911 and 1912 in the Biological Lecture Room of the Ontario Agricultural College. Before Christmas the meetings were held on alternate Thursday afternoons, and after New Year's joint meetings were held with the Wellington Field Naturalists' Club, weekly. The meetings were well attended by the staff and students of the Ontario Agricultural College and interested citizens of Guelph. The first meeting was devoted to observations by the various members, and during the rest of the season the following papers were read in order:—

"Observations in Algonquin Park," Prof. J. E. Howitt.

"Foul Broods of Bees," Mr. G. L. Jarvis.

"The Economic Importance of Calosoma sycophanta," Mr. J. Noble. "Insect Intruders in Indian Homes," Mr. G. J. Spencer.

"Birds in Relation to Insects," Mr. E. N. Calvert.

"Fall Collecting of Coleoptera," Mr. A. W. Baker. "Insectivorous Birds," Professor T. D. Jarvis.

The reports of the Branches of the Society at Montreal and Toronto give evidence of much active work, meetings having been regularly held, and many papers read and discussed. It is with great satisfaction that the Council reports the renewal of activity of the British Columbia Branch, which has already outnumbered the other branches in the list of members, and is doing much valuable work.

The Council has to record with sorrow the death of one of America's foremost entomologists, Dr. J. B. Smith, who died of Bright's disease, on March 12th, 1912. Besides a number of important monographic works on various families of Lepidoptera, particularly the Nocuida, Dr. Smith was the author of several very excellent popular treatises on Economic Entomology, in which subject few men were his equal. His contributions to the Annual Reports of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and his many economic bulletins are of the greatest value, and he is also widely known for his masterly work on the control of mosquitoes. He was an Honorary Member of the Entomological Society of Ontario and of many other learned societies, which have thus recognized the eminence of his scientific attainments.

It is also with profound regret that the Council has to record the loss of one of our Society's most active and enthusiastic members, the Reverend G. W. Taylor, who died of paralysis at Nanaimo, B.C., on August 22nd, 1912. Mr. Taylor was widely known for his work in Marine Zoology, in recognition of which the Dominion Government in 1905 appointed him a member of the Dominion Fisheries Commission for British Columbia. He was no less eminent in Entomology, as a student of the Geometridæ, and was a frequent contributor to the pages of the Canadian Ento

mologist. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, and of the Zoological and Entomological Societies of England, and Corresponding Member of the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club. Much of his character and personality is conveyed in the following words of the late Mr. James Fletcher: "Mr. Taylor is an indefatigable collector and a generous correspondent, who considers no trouble too much to make observations or secure specimens when specially desired. In his parish work he is painstaking, gentle and self-denying-always ready to help. A clear and forcible preacher and an earnest liver, who shows in his works that religion is not an accessory of everyday life, but an integral part of it."

Respectfully submitted,

E. M. WALKER,

President.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MONTREAL BRANCH.

The 328th regular and 39th annual meeting of the Montreal Branch of the Entomological Society of Ontario was held on May 8th, at the residence of the President, Mr. G. A. Southee, 356 Durocher Street, Outremont.

The following report was read by the Secretary:

THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

During the season 1911-12 eight meetings have been held, the average attendance being 72. A meeting of Council was held in September to arrange a programme for the winter's meetings, which unfortunately could not be carried out. The following papers and addresses were given at the meetings:

Address of Retiring President, Henry H. Lyman.

Some Effects of the Hot Summer on Insect Life, A. F. Winn.

Tachinid Parasites of Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths, J. D. Tothill.

Notes on Hepialus Hyperboreus, Horace Dawson (read by Secretary).
Little Journeys to Homes of Entomologists, H. H. Lyman.

Report on Annual Meeting at Guelph, A. F. Winn.

The Stilt Bugs, G. A. Moore.

The Catch from Dawson, Y. T., 1911, L. Gibb.

Further Notes on Types in British Museum. H. H. Lyman.

An Account of Visits to some U. S. Collections, F. H. Wolley-Dod.

A Miniature Insectary, A. F. Winn.

Sexual Differences in the Hemiptera, G. A. Moore.

The Determination of Sex in Lepidoptera, A. F. Winn.

Rye's Newest Moth (Gortyna erepta), Henry Bird (read by Secretary).
List of Lepidoptera from Yukon Territory, A. F. Winn.

We were again fortunate enough to have visiting entomologists at two of our gatherings, Mr. J. D. Tothill at the October one, and Mr. F. H. Wolley-Dod, of Calgary, in January, and both these gentlemen kindly addressed the meetings.

To the Library has been added a copy of Colonel Casey's Memoirs on Coleoptera, Parts I-III. Owing to Mr. Gibb having left the city to reside in London, England, the cabinet has been temporarily removed to Mr. Lyman's residence.

A case of butterflies and moths has been prepared by Mr. Gibb for Lower Canada College, and, it is hoped, will interest some of the boys in the wonders and beauty of insect life.