163 



might like to have this question answered, because if they were to study 

 these larvae, of course the first thing to be done in the matter, was to find 

 some to study. He was very glad to see that they had two papers on larval 

 forms of animal life that evening. The first paper had greatly interested 

 him, but he could not say very much about it, except that it was quite a 

 surprise to him to hear of a larval form being found on the feathers of a 

 sea bird. He had some opportunities of watching the development of 

 marine forms, and had on one occasion seen, in his aquarium, the ejection of 

 something from the open valve of a shell, and, upon closer examination, he 

 found that not only the ova, but also free swimming larva? of the barnacle 

 were being thrown out. He should advise anyone who wished to follow out 

 the study of these creatures, to separate the young from the parents as soon 

 as possible, as the latter had a way of eating them up whenever they had 

 the chance. He had found them hitherto to be very difficult to mount, 

 having tried spirit and water, glycerine and water, and nearly all the usual 

 preservative fluids, but without success — so that he should be very glad 

 indeed if anyone would tell him how it was possible to preserve them. 



The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to Mr. Hammond for 

 his paper. 



Mr. Hammond having briefly acknowledged the vote of thanks, said, in 

 reply to Mr. White's question, that the larvae of the Crane Fly might be 

 found at any time during the five months previous to September, by digging 

 in the ground under the roots of the grass — in September the pupae might 

 be found in the same way. 



Mr. White thought it might be interesting if Mr. Hammond could tell 

 them what was the best locality in which to search with success and safety, 

 for it occurred to him that possibly the owner of grass land might object to 

 several square yards being dug up in search of the larvae. 



Mr. Hammond could not point to any particular locality as being better 

 than another, almost any turf or heath would do ; the larvae destroyed the 

 roots, and so injured the grass. 



Mr. White thought that in that case the destruction of the grass was of 

 less importance, since in digging it up they would be merely forestalling the 

 larvae. 



The meetings for the ensuing month, and the papers to be read at the 

 next Ordinary Meeting were then announced, and the proceedings termi- 

 nated with a conversazione at which the following objects were exhibited : — 



Barnacles 



by Mr. T. Curties. 



Mr. Enock. 

 Mr. A. H. Halley. 

 Mr. Moginie. 

 Mr. J. Russell. 



Water Spider — Argyroneta aquatica — male ... 

 Parasite of Dung-beetle 

 Section of Willow, showing dotted ducts 

 Lung of Boa Constrictor — injected ... 

 Schlerenchymatous cell from inner bark of Pi7oO jj^ gtji es- 



carpus pennatifolius ... ... ... J 



Viscera of Humble Bee * Mr. T.Terry. 



Attendance— Members, 83 ; Visitors, 10 ; Total, 93. 



