Journal of Proceedings. xi 



another generation became possible in the season, but certain individuals 

 in a brood always exhibit a tendency to revert to the normal habits and 

 form of the species. Mr. Cole also adverted to the fact that the 

 occasional occurrence of such specimens would be of advantage to the 

 species in affording a cross between individuals which had developed 

 under very different conditions. 



Mr. Robarts and the President made some remarks, the latter 

 pointing out that Mr. Edwards's experiments with Papilio Ajax had 

 afforded very similar results. 



Mr. Cole also exhibited a series of specimens of Ewnomos angular ia, 

 being the result of an experiment designed to test the influence of 

 food on the colour and markings of insects. No definite influence could 

 be traced to the kind of food on which the caterpillars had fed, although 

 as naturally might be expected, different plants possessed very different 

 nourishing properties. Also a very curious [Gynandromorphous) speci- 

 men of the pretty silver-studded Blue Butterfly [Lvc^na agon), the 

 wings on the right side being similar to those of the male insect, whilst 

 those of the left side were of the female type. This specimen was 

 captured at Loughton, in June, 1868. 



Mr. English read a note on a new method of preserving plants for 

 the Herbarium, so as to retain much of their natural colours and form. 

 (Trans. Vol. I., p. 71.) The author exhibited specimens in illustration 

 of his remarks, and asked for the assistance and co-operation of mem- 

 bers in his endeavours to bring the process to perfection. 



Mr. English also exhibited the White Weasels referred to at the 

 last meeting, and a fine specimen of the Long-eared Owl [Otis vulgaris) 

 from Magdalen Laver, in the stomach of which he had found the 

 remains of a Song Thrush. 



At the Conversazione, Mr. C. Oldham showed some fine " cut " speci- 

 mens of fossil Madrapores, collected by himself on the South Devon 

 coast ; Mr. Lindsay, specimens of the minute Primrose {Primula minu- 

 tissima), and P. rosea from N.India; and Mr. EngHsh specimens of 

 the Wood Anemone [Anemone' nemorosa) with " double " flowers, and an 

 Albino variety of the Dog-violet [V.canina) from Epping ; Chrysosple- 

 niuni oppositifolium (Golden Saxifrage) from Ongar Park, and a white 

 variety of the Common Primrose (P. vulgaris) from the Forest. 



It was announced that at the meeting on May 29th, Mr. Henry 

 Walker, F.G.S., would give a lecture entitled "A Day's Elephant 

 Hunting in Essex," and that a class for the study of practical botany, 

 open to members of the Club, would be commenced, provided the names 

 of a sufficient number of students were received.* Also that a Field 

 Meeting would be held on May 8th or 15th, for the purpose of visiting 

 the ancient earthworks in the Forest. 



* Sufficient interest not being shown by the local me-mbers in the project, it was 

 subsequently decided not to hold the classes, at any rate just then.— Ed. 



