12 



pursuits had always afforded him the greatest pleasure, and that the 

 continued prosperity of the Club would ever be a source of gratifica- 

 tion to him, and he felt happy in doing anything in his power to 

 promote its interests. 



The President brought for exhibition the nests of some Social 

 Caterpillars from the South of France, Bombyx {Enethocampa) jrro- 

 cessionea, lately procured by Messrs. F. and E. Saunders. They 

 were found suspended from the branches of fir-trees, and were from 

 6 inches to 12 inches long, purse-Uke, with a hole in the bottom. 

 Within these nests, which are formed of a rough, silli-like substance, 

 the associated larvte reside during the night, saUying forth to the 

 branches of the fir-trees for food during the day, and doing much 

 injury. When about near the change from the caterpillar to the 

 pupa stiite, they leave the nest in procession, and are often seen tra- 

 velling on the ground, one after the other, in a continued and unbroken 

 line. The caterpillars are then about an inch in length, and the 

 processions extend to some distance. In two processions noticed, the 

 numbers counted were 85 in one and 75 in the other. The cater- 

 pillars seem to play a complete game of follow the leader, as it was 

 found that if the line of procession was broken the caterpillars behind 

 the break were thrown into confusion, and no longer continued the 

 line of procession. 



He also exhibited a fine specimen of OorJius aquatlcus, a thread- 

 like worm found in water, often measuring several inches in length, 

 and moving about in the fluid in a graceful wavelike motion of the 

 body. It is supposed to have no injurious effect on the water in 

 ■which it is found. 



He also brought for exhibition some fine specimens of Peziza, 

 recently obtained from under fir-trees, near Chipstead. This fine 

 species of fungus is rare, and has not been previously noticed in this 

 district. It has appeared in several places round London this spring, 

 and always under the shade of trees of the fir tribe. 



The President drew the attention of the Members to some curious 

 specimens of roots obtained recently from drain-pipes at Fetcham. 

 The tube of the pipes had been entirely choked with the fibrous roots 

 of the ash, even when the diameter of the tube was 6 inches. In- 



