28 



which are cleft, and allow the hook to rest on the soft membrane 

 of the abdomen. The author had established the fact that Phoro- 

 cera serriventris is viviparous, and in one preparation of a female 

 he had counted ninety-eight jaws of larvae, a number rather 

 larger than usual. Referring again to the ovipositor, Mr. Wesche 

 said the question at once arises, " To what use does an insect put 

 an ovipositor when that insect does not lay eggs ? " He was now 

 able to state that it was used to make an aperture into certain 

 caterpillars (some six species were mentioned), into which living 

 larvae were introduced. All the Lepidoptera preyed on are 

 destructive to crops and harmful to various plants, and Phoro- 

 cera must therefore be considered a useful, if cruel, insect. The 

 parasitism of Diptera on Hymenoptera is rare compared with the 

 constant attack of the Tachinidae on Lepidoptera. By means of 

 the microscope it is possible to detect the viviparous condition of 

 flies, if the specimens are properly cleared and prepared, as the 

 hard chitinous jaws are not dissolved by potash, and are very 

 characteristic in appearance, showing through the cleared plates- 

 of the abdomen. Notes on six species coming under this heading 

 were given. These were : Oliviera lateralis, F., Plagia trepidaj 

 Mg., Phorocera serriventris, Rnd,, Phora rujicorms, iVIg., formerly 

 described, and, for the first time, Myioha fenestrata, Mg., and 

 Si2)hona geniculata, Deg. 



Mr. F. J. Perks read a " Note on a Quick Method of Pre- 

 paring and Staining Pollen," also communicated by Mr. W. 

 Wesche. He said that after trying staining, and then clearing 

 in phenol and xylol, which failed to remove the stain, the following- 

 method was adopted. The flowers collected August 1st to 15th 

 were kept in pill-boxes till October 2nd. They were shaken on 

 to a slip. The pollen was scraped into a heap and stained with 

 methylated spirit, into which a few granules of methyl violet had 

 been dissolved. The stain must not be too dark ; it should be 

 quite transparent, though violet in colour. This process lasts- 

 about a minute, several drops being added at intervals, and the 

 slip is then placed on the hot plate. Watch carefully to see that 

 the liquid is in every case not completely evaporated, and add a 

 drop of unstained spirit ; repeat this, and add a drop of turpentine ;, 

 repeat three times, add a drop of balsam in xylol, and cover. Let 

 the slide cool on the hot plate after extinguishing the lamp. 



The President, in moving that a vote of thanks be accorded to 



