Wellington Philosophical Society. 665 



of the Crefell Range, west of Cromwell, to prove the existence 

 of intrusive rocks in that locality. 



7. " On the Growth of Ferns; and on a New Fern (Lygo- 

 d'um), now first reported," by H. C. Field. (Transactions, 

 p. 446.) 



Mr. Tanner wished to know if the fern referred to was edible. 



Mr. Field replied that it was not. 



Mr. T. Kirk did not think the fern new, and until further evidence is 

 received we should not accept it: it is not even allied to the plant 

 named. The variation in growth is interesting, but it is nothing new. 



The following specimens were exhibited : (1.1 Seven birds, 

 chiefly petrels, presented to the Museum by Captain Fairchild, 

 and mounted by Mr. Yuill. (2.) Minerals from Stewart 

 Island and West Coast, by Mr. F. Walter. (3.) Maori adze, 

 found in a drain in Willis Street, Wellington, by Mr. 

 Mestayer, C.E. 



Tenth Meeting : 14th November, 1894. 

 Major-General Schaw, President, in the chair. 



Neiv Member. — Dr. Anson. 



Papers. — 1. "Further Coccid Notes: with Descriptions 

 of New Species from New Zealand, Australia, Sandwich 

 Islands, and elsewhere, and Remarks upon many Species 

 already reported," by W. M. Maskell. (Transactions, p. 36.) 



2. " On the so-called Vegetable Caterpillar and other 

 Fungi that attack Insects," by"W. M. Maskell. 



Abstract. 



Insects were much subject to attacks from many kinds of parasites, 

 which might be either animal or vegetable. On the present occasion 

 he confined himself to the vegetable parasites, which are all, or almost 

 all, of the great class of Fungi. And these Fungi which prey upon insects 

 are usually divided in the present day into five groups, of which the first 

 includes the Bacteria; the second an obscure and peculiar family named 

 Laboulbeniacese; the third a number of " moulds," of which the silk- 

 worm disease is one; the fourth the family of Entomophthoreae ; and 

 the fifth some " ascigerous " fungi, including one so-called " vegetable 

 caterpillar." He proposed to deal now only with the fourth and fifth of 

 these groups, and proceeded to explain the mode of growth of some of 

 them, illustrating his remarks with specimens in the natural state, speci- 

 mens mounted and exhibited on a number of microscopes, and diagrams 

 on the black-board. These specimens and diagrams included the common 

 "house-fly fungus" (Entomophthora muscce), and various fungi which, in 

 the New Zealand forests, attack homopterous insects. Individuals of the 

 genera Ctenochiton and Lecanium (Coccids), and Rhinocola (Psyllid), 

 were shown infested with fungus, and the action of the parasite was 

 explained. It was stated that in these last cases the fungi varied a good 

 deal, though their action as regards the insects seemed the same. They 

 took possession of the whole interior of the body, and, when at the ripen- 



