140 



Murray, the biologist of Sir E. Shackleton's Antarctic expedi- 

 tion. The results were extremely good. It would be impossible 

 to give a tithe of the acquisitions in pond-life, but a few 

 may be noted. One member records ZoothaKiinium, Aciiieta, 

 Daj)hnia magna, and Actinosphaeriuin, "besides a host of 

 smaller fry." Entomostraca and free-swimming rotifera were 

 extremely abundant, also Melicerta in beautiful condition. A 

 number of the peculiar and interesting rat-tailed maggot, the 

 larva of Eristalix, was found, and also the well-known phantom 

 larva Corethra. In the algae, Oedogonium, Mougeotia, and 

 Bat7'achos2yer7mun, also Nitella, bearing its interesting repro- 

 ductive organs, were taken. The very pretty, but perhaps 

 little-known, Sciadium Arhuscula was in extraordinary abun- 

 dance on the leaves of the water-crowfoot. Synvra uvella 

 and Dinohryon sertidaria were noticed. These, now classed 

 with algae, were formerly considered animals an opinion which 

 many microscopists probably retain. Among other aquatic 

 flowering plants, Hottonia j)cdustris and Utricidaria occurred. 

 Adoxa moschatellina was found a somewhat singular plant be- 

 longing to the same order as the common ivy, but quite unlike 

 it in habit, which had the additional charm, for some, of being 

 covered with the fungus Puccinia adoxae. Twenty members 

 stayed to a substantial tea at Higham's Park before returning 

 to town. 



Han WELL (May 7th). 



BuRNHAM Beeches. 



On May 28th the excursion of the Club was to Burnham Beeches. 

 There was a good muster, and the members were favoured with 

 fine weather. The walk from the station was very enjoyable, the 

 hedges and trees being in their early summer perfection. White 

 bryony was noticed in several places, though not yet in flower ; 

 the evening and bladder campions were plentiful, the latter 

 yielding instances of its anthers being attacked by the fungus 

 Ustilago antherarimi. Tlie three lakes at the Beeches were 

 visited, and gave abundant material for future examination. A 

 singular fact (in the writer's experience) was the entire absence 

 of the Entomostraca, not even a cyclops being seen, a dead 



