360 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Mr. William Stewart reported on the excursions to Lennox Castle 

 on 28th September, and to Cadder Wilderness on 19th October 

 (see page 338). 



26th November, 1901. 



Mr. Alex. Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



On behalf of the Rev. J. E. Somerville, B.D., Mentone, France, 

 there was exhibited by the President a living specimen of 

 Mantis religiosa, L., the " praying insect," allied to the " walk- 

 ing leaves " and " stick insects," and belonging to the order 

 Orthoptera. Entirely carnivorous, it does not pursue its prey, 

 but, gifted with great raptorial forelegs, it waits patiently until 

 a fly or other small creature comes within reach, when it in- 

 stantly seizes it. The attitude of the insect while awaiting the 

 approach of its prey has led to its receiving the names it bears. 



Mr. Thos. Beath Henderson, M.D., exhibited (1) two epidermic 

 castings of young Boa constrictor, L., at different periods, show- 

 ing the rate of growth; (2) a specimen in spirit of Dendrophis 

 punctulatus, Krefft, a colubrine snake from Australia. It is a 

 typical tree snake, the ventral scales having a pair of suture- 

 like lateral keels, and a notch on each side, by means of which 

 it is enabled to slide up the branches of trees without having 

 to twist its way up. It has no poison teeth of any kind; (3) a 

 specimen in spirit of Bipsadomorplius fuscus, Gray, from 

 Queensland, an " opisthoglyphous " snake — that is, having a 

 few of the posterior maxillary teeth enlarged and furnished each 

 with a groove in front, which conducts venom from the upper 

 labial glands. These snakes are not very dangerous to man, as 

 their poison is not strong, and the poison teeth are placed so far 

 back that they do not readily inflict a wound. The venom is 

 useful to the snake in paralysing its prey before it is swallowed. 



Mr. Robert Brown, M.D., Hon. Secretary, read a paper entitled 

 " Botanising on the Swiss Alps in Spring." He described the 

 beauty of the Swiss valleys as the snow melts away under the 

 influence of the sun and warm breezes, and a veritable carpet of 

 flowers at once springs up. The district round Lucerne, with 

 its combination of high mountain, gentle slope, and wide marsh, 

 affords an ideal working ground for a botanist. Mount Pilatus 

 was carefully scrutinized, and many exquisite plants were 



