PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 725 



and were exhibited under Microscopes in the room. One of these 

 was certainly a portrait of Prof. Quekett, but as there seemed some 

 uncertainty as to the identity of the others, the Fellows were asked to 

 look at them, and to name them in the event of their being recognised. 

 They were subsequently identified as those of Dr. J. Millar, who 

 was for many years a Member of the Council of the Society, and of 

 Dr. Letheby. 



A Note, entitled " The Antennas of Pulex irritans, with remarks on 

 a hitherto undescribed structure of the same," by Mr. W. D. Colver, 

 was read by the Secretary, as follows : The object exhibited under the 

 Microscope in the room this evening was of particular interest to ento- 

 mologists, as it was believed to be the first time that the lamellated 

 structure on the terminal joint of the antennae of Pulex irritans had 

 been demonstrated. It was discovered by Mr. William Jenkinson, of 

 Sheffield, whilst studying the sense organs of insects, who had kindly 

 lent two slides for exhibition, one of which showed the entire antennae, 

 whilst the other was of the terminal joint only, showing more clearly the 

 particular structure referred to. Photographs of this were exhibited in 

 the room and also upon the screen, the amplification being about x 400. 

 In describing his observation, Mr. Jenkinson remarked, " that the 

 antennae of the common flea were a pair of appendages situated in 

 immediate proximity to the eyes, formed externally of three distinct 

 cbitinous joints, and believed to have an olfactory function." The joint 

 attached to the head was a simple structure, the second being circular in 

 section and conical in shape, and perforated longitudinally for the 

 passage of the nerve and trachea. The third, or terminal joint, was 

 somewhat globular in shape, one half being divided into leaf-like 

 appendages, or lamellaa, and it could readily be imagined that when the 

 terminal of the large antennal nerve given off from the brain was dis- 

 tributed over the surface of these lamellas, there would be an extensive 

 area of highly sensitive surface for the reception of impressions. He 

 had found a similar structure in several others of the Pulicidaa, and 

 inferred, therefore, that it would be common to all members of the 

 family. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Colver for his com- 

 munication. 



Part XVII. of the "Report on the Recent Foraminifera of the 

 Malay Archipelago," by Mr. F. W. Millett, was taken as read. 



Dr. Henry Woodward, having been asked to take the Chair pro tern. 



The President gave a demonstration of " The Reconstruction of a 

 Fossil Plant." The plant selected was Lygino den (iron oldhamium Will, 

 from the lower coal-measures of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the 

 growth of our knowledge of its construction was illustrated by a large 

 number of the actual sections, shown upon the screen under various 

 magnifying powers by means of the epidiascope. A few supplementary 

 lantern-slides were also shown. 



Dec. 21st, 1904. 3 D 



