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members placed their instruments at his disposal :—Dr. Strong, 
Messrs. H. Ashby, J. Berney, W. R. Cooper, C. W. Hovenden, 
J. 8. Johnson, G. F. Linney, H. Long, K. McKean, G. Manners, 
and J. Parry. 
Dr. Srrone asked which was the best way of killing and 
preserving beetles. 
Mr. Taytor said the best way was to immerse them in a test 
tube in boiling water. Care, however, should be taken to immerse 
them long enough, otherwise they would show signs of vitality, and 
make their escape. He happened with a misfortune of that kind 
on one occasion. He found that a good means of preserving them 
was by placing them in a bottle with broken laurel leaves. 
The PresipEnt said the question of killing destructive beetles 
was very important. Some of the Weevil species committed great 
havoc in coffee plantations, and destroyed timber trees. He was 
asked some time ago to give his advice in a case where these 
insects had completely destroyed a large quantity of ash wood, 
rendering it useless for the purpose to which it was to be 
applied, and his advice was to bake the wood. These insects 
had been soaked in carbonic acid, and still they lived; but he 
believed that the baking of the wood would kill them. How the 
insects in growing coffee bushes were to be destroyed he did not 
know. 
Mr. Taytor, in reply to a member, said the larva of the beetle 
was very difficult to rear. He succeeded, some 14 years ago, in 
rearing some—the first ever known in this country. He pointed 
out how the genus Byturus which infested the blackberry and 
raspberry might be obtained. When the fruit gradually dwindled 
and died away, the piece became slowly absorbed, but when 
picked before it withered, fermentation took place, and an excess of 
moisture was developed sufficient to drown the insect. This Mr. 
Taylor had prevented by burying the fruit in sand, which removed 
the superfluous moisture, and enabled him to secure the larva. 
The PresipEnt, in according to Mr. Taylor the thanks of the 
Club for his very interesting and highly practical paper, suggested 
that that gentleman should take charge of an excursion now that 
the season was coming forward, and teach the members where to 
find these beetles for themselves. The President also announced 
that the usual monthly meetings would be adjourned to the 17th 
September. He was happy to say that their meetings this year had 
not been inferior to those of former sessions. Some excellent — 
papers had been read, followed by good discussions, and cheerful 
and happy association of the members with each other, and he 
trusted this would continue for their mutual benefit. The summer 
months would be devoted to excursions, of which due notice would 
be given. 
