154 Linnean Society. [Dec. 2, 



worm-eaten on the outside. In 1838 it was lined with thin lead 

 (of 5 lbs. to the square foot) ; but in little more than three years it 

 began to leak, when some small holes were discovered in the lead 

 and were soldered over. In 1842, however, the leakage had increased 

 to such an extent that the leaden lining was removed, and a thicker 

 one (of 18 lbs. to the square foot) was substituted. Five or six 

 years afterwards, however, the leakage again commenced ; and in 

 1850 it had proceeded to such an extent that the cistern was entirely 

 removed to make room for one of iron. On taking out the lining 

 it was clearly ascertained that the perforations from which the 

 leakage arose were the work of an insect, which, after boring through 

 the wood, had made its way also through the leaden lining. A spe- 

 cimen sent by Dr. Gilbert to the British Museum was determined 

 by Mr. White to be the Anobium striatum ; and similar instances of 

 injury to wooden cisterns lined with lead were referred to as detailed 

 in Mr. Westwood's ' Introduction to the Modern Classification of 

 Insects,' in the * Zoologist,' and in the ' Proceedings of the Ento- 

 mological Society.' 



Read the commencement of a memoir " On two Genera of Plants 

 from the Cordillera of ChUi." By John Miers, Esq., F.R.S., 

 F.L.S. &c. 



December 2. 

 William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Adam White, F.L.S. , exhibited numerous insects belonging 

 to Mr. S. Stevens, F.L.S., collected by Mr. Bates in South America, 

 and others belonging to Mr. Frederick Smith ; made some observa- 

 tions on the various species exhibited ; and read extracts from Mr. 

 Bates's letters to Mr. Stevens, on the subject of his travels and col- 

 lections. 



Read the conclusion of Mr. Miers's memoir " On two Genera of 

 Plants from the Cordillera of Chile." 



Both these plants were collected by Mr. Miers in his rapid journey 

 over the Cordillera in 1825. The first belongs to the tribe of Erio- 



