Proceedings of the 



occasion obviously point to these universal associations of winged and 

 apterous types as intimately related to each other ; and neither of these 

 types being parasitic, but all vegetable feeders subsisting alike within the 

 seed vessels of the fig, and having no other associates therein, they can only 

 derive their existence from the same parental origin, and constitute inter se 

 the two sexes of the respective species. Further observation in support of 

 this conviction has led to the verification of the mode whereby impregnation 

 is effected in Blastophaga, before the female emerges from her cell in the 

 pericarp ; wherein she nibbles a small aperture in the first instance, showing 

 only a portion of her head as a black speck, her antennae concealed within, 

 in which position she remains curled round and quiescent for a day or two, 

 awaiting the addresses of any rover in search of a mate, one of which is 

 now exhibited perched upon the summit as found and retained intact in 

 situ. An analogous instance may be cited in Oiketicus and Psyche among 

 the moths; although in these the females are apterous and their partners 

 winged, the reverse obtaining in these denizens of figs, where all being 

 confined together within a limited space, the male has no need of wings, 

 which are essential for the dispersion of the females. Eventuall.v the 

 female enlarges the orifice, availing herself of her serrated mandibular 

 appendages for this purpose ; but when the fig is cut open the seed vessels 

 soon assume a pergameneous consistency, and retain their hapless captives 

 by the shoulders while vainly struggling to emerge, as exhibited in several 

 specimens. The males, however, effect a large breach at once, and are the 

 first to emancipate themselves. After the females are freed from the 

 pericarp they ha'/e still another barrier to penetrate before they can effect 

 their escape from the closed fig itself ; for which purpose the Sycophagm 

 make a series of holes around the stamens affixed to the crown of the fig, 

 which becoming detached affords the brood an ample passage. The males, 

 however, never quit the fig, but are found dead within at this period. The 

 natives of Egypt, though uninitiated in the arcana of caprification f or their 

 domestic figs (which abound notwithstanding), are accustomed to make a 

 slit in each Sycamore fig to promote its distension, or otherwise they never 

 ripen, thereby facilitating also the egress of their inmates, and reHeving tlie 

 unconscious consumer from the presence of such unwelcome guests ; the 

 defunct males being inappreciable and resembling portions of the fig itself. 



Thus in the instincts and economy of these minute races, endowed with 

 abnormal structural apphanccs adapted to peculiar functional requirements, 

 a farther illustration is afforded of the many mysterious phenomena which 

 court investigation in this prolific field of research, where new phases of 

 wonder and admiration arc constantly elicited, and some of the most 

 intricate problems, involving physiological questions of no mean import, are 

 open to enquiry, for the eUicilation of which the mere discrimination of 

 indi\idual species is but in itself the first stepping stone. 



Evening Meeting, A2ml 9th, 1880. Mr. Bennett exhibited a growing 

 specimen of Hierochloe bo ealis, the Northern Holy Grass, grown by him 

 at Croydon. This grass was discovered by Eobert Dick in Caithness-shire. 



