280 transactions, natural history society of glasgow. 



SOtii April, 1901. 



Mr. Alex. Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



The meeting was devoted to a lecture on "Ants," given by Mr. 

 J. G. Goodchild, F.G.S., F.Z.S., of H.M. Geological Survey. The 

 lecturer began with a general description of the anatomy of ants, 

 and then in considei-able detail gave a series of facts, verified by 

 observation, illustrative of their social life and domestic habits. 

 With the aid of a number of beautiful lantern slides, Mr. Good- 

 child showed the origin and development of new ant communities 

 under a queen, and described the many ways in which the 

 activities of an ant colony are exercised, the various duties of the 

 males, females, and neutrals or workers being all explained at 

 length. He then touched on the subject of ant parasites and 

 commensals ; on the attack made by Aphides on honey-secreting 

 plants ; and on how these attacked plants protect themselves 

 against injury. The lecture was highly appreciated by a large 

 audience, and the lecturer awarded a hearty vote of thanks. 



28th May, 1901. 



Mr. Alex. Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



Mr. J. J. Robertson reported on the excursion to Cadzow, on 

 27th April (see page 258), and Mr. Thos. Boyle contributed a 

 similar statement on that to Castlemilk, on 16th May (see 

 page 259). 



It was intimated that the Council of the Society had voted a 

 contribution of a guinea towards the maintenance of the Millport 

 Marine Biological Station. 



On behalf of Mr. Andrew Gilchrist, there was exhibited 

 a specimen of the alien leguminous plant, Trigonella foenum- 

 grcecum, L., the Fenugreek, found growing in 1898, as a 

 casual, at Doonfoot, Ayr, and identified by Mr. S. T. 

 Dunn, B.A., F.L.S., of the Royal Gardens, Kew. The plant is 

 interesting as having been known to, and cultivated by, the 

 ancient Greeks, who grew it for spring forage, and for the 

 properties of its seeds, which, according to Loudon, were " useful 



