I 



29 



peculiarity of the flowers of the Common Lythriim which con- 

 sisted in the fact that in many instances the six long stamens 

 were simuoimted with purple anthers containing green pollen 

 while the six shorter ones have yellow anthers^ with bright 

 yellow pollen. Moreover, the size of the pollen differed, tho 

 gi-een measuring l-600th of an inch long by 1-1 200th broad, 

 while the yellow is l-800th long by l-1600th broad._ Tho 

 attention of local botanists was requested to the further investi- 

 gation of this subject. Mr. FuUagar exhibited living specimens 

 of the Canterbury Argus reflexus, which have been frequently 

 reverted to in foi-mer reports. Mr. Bell brought for inspection a 

 specimen of fossil fruit, fi-om the London clay, near Whitstable. 



October ith. 



Mr. W. H. Hammond exhibited a goodly collection^of slides, 

 which he had moimted, principally fresh water diatoms from 

 Chartham. Mr. Kingsford, of Wingham, sent a large specimen 

 of the tree or paper wasj), constructed on a branch of holly. A 

 paper was read from Major Hall, of Exeter, a corresponding 

 member of the Society, on " Physianthus albens," the flower of 

 which entraps and kills large insects. 



November Ist. 



W. Gardner, Esq., sent to the meeting large specimens of the 

 fruit of PjTus Japonica. Mr. W. H. Hammond exhibited 

 a variety of polished pebbles from Devonshire. Mrs. Collins 

 from St. Martin's HUl, contributed a niunber of the parasites of 

 the large humble bee. A further description by Major Hall of 

 the insect trapping plant, Physianthus albens, an Asclepiad, was 

 read at the meeting, and a vote of thanks was accorded him for 

 both his interesting papers on this subject. An historical in- 

 troduction was given by the Hon. Sec, and some^. important re- 

 marks on the above papers were made by James Eeid, Esq., 

 which will be found in the Society's Record. 



A special meeting was held on the 23rd November at the 

 Society's rooms when the President, G. Dowker, Esq., F.G.S., 

 gave a lecture on flint stones with an account of banded flints. 

 The lectiu'e was illustated by diagrams and by a large number 

 of specimens from the President's private collection. The solu- 

 bility of Silica was stated to be of the highest interest to the 

 Geologist, and one method in which the gelatinous silica was seen 

 forming drop b}' drop was most successfiUly demonstrated during 

 the lectm-e by Mr. Sidney Harvey, who afterwards explained the 

 apparatus and process used. 



