[1] I shall be greatly obliged to any readers of this who will give me information as to the occurrence of _Nephele_ or _Alope_ west of New York. Two plates of Part IX Butterflies of North America will be devoted to the illustration of these forms and varieties, and intergrades, and I desire to make the history of the species as complete as possible in the text. ENTOMOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS. BY JAMES FLETCHER, OTTAWA, ONT. Entomology seems to be gradually throwing off the veil of contempt under which it has been so long hidden. The Botanist has always to a certain extent been deemed a philosopher from the important part plants play in Pharmacy; the Geologist and Mineralogist, too, from the possibility of their discovering precious metals have been treated by the outside unscientific world as sages worthy of some respect. Entomologists, however, have not thus been honored by the masses. The question would be asked—What tangible results can come from collecting flies and bugs and sticking pins through them? and in vain the amount of damage done by insects year by year might be estimated and pointed out. This state of affairs though I believe is now at an end. The claims of the science on all agriculturists and horticulturists are daily becoming more apparent. The institution of the United States Entomological Commission, and the success that has attended that organization from the happy choice of such men as Messrs. C. V. Riley 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 Naturaliste Canadien_, edited by the Abbé 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 Naturaliste Canadien_ is published in the French language. It was commenced in December, 1868, from which time the Abbé 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