1852.] Liiinean Society. 177 



skeletons cleaned by the ants were rapidly dissolved in a solution of 

 chloride of lime ; while others prepared by maceration remained for 

 some time in a similar solution without injury and were much im- 

 proved in whiteness. 



The species was determined by Mr. F. Smith to be the Myrmica 

 domestica. Shuck. A notice of " the domestic habits " of this Ant, 

 by the late Dr. Bostock, in relation especially to the almost incredi- 

 ble numbers in which it makes its appearance, the annoyance thereby 

 created, and the means to be employed for its destruction, is printed 

 in the 2nd volume of the ' Transactions of the Entomological Society,' 

 and observations on the same subject by several members of that 

 Society are also to be found in its ' Journal of Proceedino-s.' 



April 6. 



Robert Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Adam White, F.L.S., made some observations on the subject 

 of Alpine and Arctic plants flowering immediately on the disappear- 

 ance of the snow, in reference chiefly to an observation by Dr. Lortet, 

 recorded in the ' Annales de la Societe Royale d' Agriculture, &c. 

 de Lyon,' vol. vii. p. 385, to which Mr. Curtis, F.L.S., had called the 

 attention of the Society at the previous Meeting. From Dr. Lortet's 

 note it appears that he had observed Soldanella alpina, L., on the 

 Alps of Switzerland and Dauphiny flowering beneath the last re- 

 maining crust of snow within a dome-like cavity, or piercing 

 through that crust, above which its flowers rose while its vegetating 

 organs remained concealed beneath. Mr. White quoted various re- 

 corded and unrecorded instances of the flowering of plants following 

 immediatel)' on the deliquescence of the snow, and in particular 

 some passages from the manuscript journal of Capt. Beechey, with 

 which he had been favoured by that gentleman ; but in none of 

 these cases was there any well-authenticated instance of a phseno- 

 gamic plant being seen in full flower beneath a covering of snow, 

 and M. Lortet's observation was, as far as Mr. White was aware, the 

 only one proceeding to that extent. 



Read also two Letters addressed by James Motley, Esq., to Sir 

 W. J. Hooker, V.P.L.S., " On the Camphor Tree of Sumatra and 

 Borneo, Dryohalanops Camphora, Gaertn." Communicated by Sir 

 W. J. Hooker. 



No. XLIX. — Proceeding? of the Linxeax Society. 



