Proceedings. 213 



^Microscopical mid Natural History Section^ 



Ordinary Meeting, March nth, 1889. 



Mr. J. Cosmo Melvill, M.A., F.L.S., President of the 

 Section, in the Chair. 



There were exhibited : — 



By Mr. H. Hyde, shells of various species of ZizypJiinus. 



By Mr. P. Cameron, an apparently undescribed species 

 of Athalia from Japan, and a new species of Saw-fly from 

 Gibraltar, allied to Athalia, but with the antennae 20-jointed 

 and forming probably the type of a new genus. 



By Mr. H. C. Chadwick, a piece of rock of a remark- 

 able hexagonal honeycomb structure. 



By Mr. Theodore Sington, a number of specimens 

 of resin from the East Coast of Africa, containing insects, 

 spiders, &c. 



By Dr. HODGKINSON, a humming bird, Chrysolanipis 

 inosqiiitits. Dr. Hodgkinson drew attention to the fact 

 that in this and most other humming-birds the brilliant 

 colouring is situated on the crest and gorget. The colour 

 is best seen when the position of the bird is such that the 

 light is reflected from those parts directly to the front. 

 The intensity of the coloured light thus reflected is very 

 great, and can be shown to be sufficient to illuminate very 

 perceptibly objects on which it falls. It would thus seem 

 that such light would serve to light up the dark tubes of 

 flowers which the bird might be visiting in search of insects 

 or honey. 



