19 



underground caterpillar of a species sioiiUr to our 

 ^bost moth, by I he President. Mr. Jooathan 

 Hutchinson, F.K.S. ; a magnificent collection of 

 living Kentish orchids, by Mr. W. H. Hiinmomi, 

 which attracted much attention. The spHcimeos 

 included: Tway blade. Spotted, Lesser Hutttrtly, 

 Larimer Butterfly, Broad-leafed tiell^borine Early 

 Pur^^le. M'lrsfa, Gret-n-wintjeJ Meadow, Green 

 Man. Habeuaiia. Eaily Spider, Soldier, White 

 Helleborine, Fly, Gr^-at Br.iwn-wio^ed. Simple 

 appar-ttus for takinjj photographs in natural 

 colours and locil meteorological records, Mr. 

 Ltnder. An electric motor which revolved by 

 means of the earth's magaetism, Mr. Holt, of 

 Dover; etc. 



FRIDAY'S PROOEEDIiVGS. 



delegates' meeting. 



The Council met at 10 a m and an hour later a 

 delegates' meeting was held, presided over by the 

 Kev. F. R. R. Stebbing, M.A., F.R S , Tunbridgo 

 Wells, who mentioned that their President (Mr. 

 Jonathan Hutchinson) was unable to be present 

 u itil the afternoon. 



The Hon General Secretary( Mr. George Abbott), 

 in his anuaal report, stated : — » 



A nearly complete account of the Congress at Hasle- 

 mereand HindbeadappearedintheUstTransactions. The 

 meetinjf> were as successful as any we have ever had. They 

 took place iu a district renowned for its benuty. Every 

 visitor welcomed the kindness shown by the hosts, felt 

 the value of the work done at the meetings and appreci- 

 ated the opportunity of visiting Tennyson's home and 

 examining the invaluable educational Museum formed 

 by Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, our present President. 

 The balance sheet points also to another satisfactory 

 aspect of the visit. 



The Council has met twice since the Congress. By 

 means of a circular letter, the aflB.iiated Societies have 

 been cjnsulted in reference to the institution of life 

 memberships of the Union. Of the ten replies received 

 all, after explanations given, hive expressed approval. 

 It was tberefure decided that members might compound 

 the annual subscription of 2s. 6d. for one payme:it of 

 j£2 23. Three have already signified their desire to 

 accept such terms and one has paid the amount to the 

 Treasurer. 



Whilst no additional sets of slides have been secured, 

 the old ones have been u^ed. The orchid set. prepared 

 by the late Mr. S. Horsley. has been shown to sereral 

 societies by Mr. H. Ringwood Peach, of Sidcup. for 

 which services the Council tenler him their best thanks. 



Wiih the annual returns just received from the 

 Societies some suggestions for new work have been sent 

 in. which will have early consideration. Oue, f rom the 

 City of London College Science Society, is that by the 

 payment of an extra sum it might be made possible for 

 any member of the Union to obtain the publications of 

 all the affiliated Societies. If such a plan were adopteil 

 and a sufficient number of persons or Societies agreeil 

 to join several indirect advantages might accrue. 



A useful work ha^ recently been commenced which 

 deserves notice at this Congress, viz., the inauguration 

 of a photographic survey of the County of Surrey. It is 

 hoped that the Societies assoi;iat?d in our Uuion will 

 give the work all the assistance and suppo. t they can ; 

 also that those in the Counties of Kent, Sussex, Middle- 

 sex, and Hants will not allow any long time to elapse 

 before they tollow so good an example. Further par- 

 ticulars can be had from Mr. H. D. Gower. 55, Benson 

 Road, Croydon, or of Mr. W. Wbitaker. 



It is suggested for the consideration of delegatea 

 whether more might not be done to increase the useful- 

 ness of our Temporary Congress Museums. Secretaries 

 should bear in mind this opportunity of securing a wider 

 audience when anything of special interest is shown 

 during their wint?r meetings. Would it not be possible 

 also to utilize our museum for the exchange and easy 

 distribution of specimens. 



The subject of nature-study and science teaching in 

 schools was brought before you last year by Miss 

 Buckton and Professor A. D. Hall. Much advance has 

 been made smce in two directions. First by the pub- 

 lication of the Xi'fnre Sf>"hj JovnmU due to the exer- 

 tions of Professor Hall, and ag.iin by the arrangements 

 for a nature study exhibition in the Royal Botanic 

 Society's Gardens, on July 23.wiiich promises to be of 

 a most interesting character. No douht all Affiliated 

 Societies will do their utmost to support these import- 

 ant efforts. The promoters will welcome the assistance 

 of Societies and Museums. 



The societies on our roll now number thirty-seven, a loss 

 of one and a gain of two, the Battersca Field Club and 

 the Epsom College N.H.S. The increase, if small, still 

 goes on, and very few societies remain outside our ranks, 

 ludeed, no arguments should be nee led to show that it 

 is to the interest of societies themselves to beiome 

 affiliated. 



We have, thanks to the generosity of friends and a 

 longer list of delegate-) and members, no longer to talk 

 of deficits. Our present balance sheet shows us in a 

 much better financial position. The number of tickets 

 issued for this Congress is most encouraging, and makes 

 us hopeful of the future. 



The Chairman moved the adoption of the 

 report, which was put to the meeting, and cirried 

 unanimously. 



The treasurer's report, read by the Chairman, 

 showed that the total income am^junted to ^33 

 163., and there remained a small balance in hand. 

 In the future, as they were not iu a good financial 

 position, he hoped they would have a life-member- 

 sbip. He trusted the new rule would be adopted. 



Il was decided that the balance sheet be printed, 

 but the question of life subscriptions was lelt for 

 future consideration. 



At the invitation of the Science Society of 

 Dover, it was unanimously agreed that tbe Con- 

 gress should be held there next year. 



PROFESSOR POULTON ON MIMICRY FY INSECTS. 



Professor E. B. Poulton then gave a very 

 interesting address on " Recent researches on 

 mimicry by insects," which was illustrated 

 by means of about fifty lantern slides. The 

 lantern was manipulated by Mr. A. Lander 

 and the slides had been prepared by means 

 of tbe Sanger-Shepherd process of col-^ur photo- 

 graphy : some of them showed thecolours extremely 

 well. Professor Poulton, among other things, 

 described how the colour^ of caterpillars could bo 

 altered by means of tbefoodupnn which they were 

 fed and to prove this be threw upon the screen 

 several photographs. It was noticed that if the 

 caterpillars had been fed upon dark coloured twigs 

 then the caterpillars themselves became dark, 

 almost exactly imitating tbe hue of the twigs 

 upon which they fed. Under other circumscanoes 

 they became light coloured or greeu, in sympathy 

 with the colour of their surroundii.gs, and in one 

 case their food was mixed with a number of 

 paper spills, whereupon the caterpillars speedily 

 simulated thero. In another experiment they were 



