•1887.] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 23 



hence the exhibitor thinks its specific name honida, and, further, 

 iDelieves it is confined to the West Indies. 



2. Cocoon of Ichneumon — Parasitic on Larvae of Orgyia 

 Leucostig?na, Harris: exhibited and described by Mr. E. B. Grove- 



It is a free cocoon formed outside of the body of the larvae or 

 ■cocoons of the female of O. leucostigma (have never noticed any 

 on the larvae or cocoons producing the male imago). The ma- 

 terial of which it is composed resembles spun-glass. Imago (or 

 perfect-fly) escapes through a peculiar trap-door arrangement 

 at upper end of cocoon. 



3. Mucor Racemosus growing en masse: exhibited and described 

 by Mr. Charles E. Pellew, M. E. 



4. Mucor Racemosus {sporangia)^ isolated and mounted: exhib- 

 ited and described by Mr. Charles E. Pellew, M. E. 



A not uncommon form of Mould, distinguished from others 

 by its extremely rapid growth. The mycelium is at first white, 

 but turns dark-colored when the sporangia ripen. This variety 

 has proven a serious source of contamination of " Cultures" in 

 the "School of Mines Laboratory" the past winter. 



The Moulds are interesting microscopic objects for study, and 

 ■can be readily cultivated. The air is so full of spores of various 

 species, that a piece of bread moistened with water, and put 

 under a tumbler or bell-glass in a room of 60° to 80° Fahr., will 

 in two or three days have several spots of Mould. 



A small fragment of meat boiled and kept in a moist con- 

 dition, and covered as above, will show a growth of Moulds in a 

 day or two. 



The function of the Moulds is to destroy the substances upon 

 which they grow. They are unbuilders, and to prevent their 

 growth, and that of Microbes, upon fresh meats, these must be 

 kept at a temperature below that in which the spores can 

 germinate. 



5. Proboscis of Blow-fly: (?) exhibited by Mr. A. G. Leonard, 



6. Sea Life : exhibited and explained by Mr. M. M, LeBrun, 



7. Blatta Orientalis, Harris, Cockroach: exhibited and ex- 

 plained by Mr. F. W. Leggett, 



8. Reticulation of the Tunics of Crocus Vermis., Allione : ex- 

 hibited and described by Mr. E. B. Southwick, 



This crocus belongs to the spring-flowering species and the 



