Clifton College Scientific Society. 



MEETING, Oct. 14, 1869. 



Tlie President exhibited a box of insects, presented by W. 

 Claxton — a sea mouse {Aphrodite aculeata) — and a common 

 barnacle {Lepas anatifera), presented by D. Walsh, Esq., and 

 various other articles presented to the Society. He then read 

 a paper on the Geology of the neighboiu'hood, illustrating it 

 with a map. 



The following ordinary members were elected : — 



Hooper, Hutchinson, 



Wills, Wintle, 



Nash, Beobie. 



Present, 17 members and visitors. 



MEETING, Oct. 28, 1869. 



The following were elected ordinary members : — 

 Paul, Spicee, 



Smith, Stone. 



The following paper on ' Insect Parasites,' was read by 

 the Eev. W. W. Spicer, M.A. :— 



A CHAPTEK IX THE LIFE HISTORY OF INSECT 

 PAEASITES. 



All insects, as you are no doubt aware, suffer greatly from 

 the attacks of parasites ; that is to say, they are very liable 

 to be preyed uj)on, during their lifetime, by animals nearly 

 related to themselves. Whether they are feeders on flesh or 

 on vegetable substances — whether they are soft-bodied, like 

 the Aphis, or with a hard, almost metallic, sui-face like many 

 of the beetles — whether they are iii an imperfect state as a 

 caterpillar, or their organisation be complete, all these va- 

 rious conditions seem to make no difference. At every turn 

 an enemy awaits them, as cunning and active as themselves, 

 which either fixes itself to the outer surface of their bodies 

 and sucks out the internal juices through a powerful rostrum 

 or beak, or else by means of a long j)iei'cing ovipositor 

 inserts an egg beneath the outer skin, from whence proceeds 



