Extracts from the Minute- Book of the Linnean Society. 507 
Nov. 5. Mr. Arthur Aikin, F.L.S. presented a Specimen of 
the Astrantia major L., found by him in an apparently 
wild state in a wood which covers the N.E. side of Yeo- 
edge, a limestone hill, near Stokesay Castle, on the road 
between Ludlow and Church Stretton. 
March2, A Communication on the Locust (Gryllus migrato- 
1826. rius Linn.) which lately devastated the Crimea and the 
southern provinces of Russia, was presented by John 
Smirnove, Esq., F.R. and L.S., Secretary to the Rus- 
sian Embassy. The following are extracts :—** The 
Locust deposits its eggs in small bags composed of a 
thin membrane, about the size of an almond. Each 
of these bags is found to contain from 80 to 100 eggs ; 
so that an idea may be formed of their amazing fecun- 
dity. In the spring, about the month of April, when 
the sun begins to give new life to vegetation, the eggs 
are quickly hatched, and the insects, in the shape of 
white beetles, are seen creeping out in myriads. In 
this state they spread themselves over whole fields 
during the day; but at night they collect together in 
clusters, and thousands of locust-hillocks may be seen 
in one corn-field. After remaining two or three weeks 
in the crawling state, the insects, daily gaining strength, 
next begin to leap. At this period they become de- 
- structive, from their destroying the springing corn and 
the young shoots of the vine; and gradually gaining 
strength, they spread themselves more and more, and 
unite in such multitudes, that in some places many 
miles in extent are covered with them in columns of 
from six to ten inches thick and upwards. In June 
: they 
