cxlviii Proceedings. 



He also exhibited a collection of marine objects, illustrating the 

 mode of preserving temporarily in tubes of fluid, and a microscopist's 

 workshop, being the apparatus used in the preparation of objects. 

 Under microscopes he exhibited fully matured eggs of a fish (Gobius 

 niger), and a yoimg crustacean (Porcellana platycheles), showing 

 plumose mouth organs. Mr. Phihp Crowley desei-ves to carry off the 

 palm for patience, for his section of the entire length of a fox's jaw 

 with the teeth in situ. 



Several microscopes of old pattern, some dating from last century, 

 and two solar microscopes, were exhibited by various members. These 

 showed in a marked manner the advances which have of late years 

 been made in microscopic construction, and it may almost be said that, 

 considered as an instrument of scientific research, the microscope is 

 now practically perfect. 



A very interesting book by Adams, dated 1771, was exhibited by 

 Mr. Aldous, F.K.M.S. 



The h\dng objects exhibited were principally aquatic, and, as usual, 

 were regarded by the visitors with mingled feelmgs of interest and 

 horror, more especially some animalcules from water in which water- 

 cress had been washed for table. Other objects exliibited, were Muller's 

 tj'pe slide of diatoms, cat's tongue, hair from beard, wood ants, head 

 of mosquito, leaf of sundew with a captive fly, sections of human 

 tongue, lung, and scalp, diamond beetles, sponge spicules, section of 

 ' gneiss,' by polarised light, silver in the act of crystallising, diatoms 

 on sea-weed, internal casts of Foraminifera, fossil wood, &c., sections 

 of limestone from New Zealand. 



Mr. Holmes also exhibited a series of drawings of sponge spicules, 

 and a number of slides of sponges, both marine and freshwater, Forami- 

 nifera, and geological specimens, &c. — W. M. Holmes, Hon. Sec. 



Beport of the Zoological Sub-Committee, January, 1890. 



Owing to my not having had much opportunity during this last 

 season of collecting in our neighbourhood, and from the fact of the 

 scarcity of insects, there is little of interest for me to report ; I will, 

 however, make a few observations on those things which have come 

 under my notice during my rambles. Mature Lepidoptera I found com- 

 paratively few of. Larvae were scarce, with exception of M. brasgicee 

 and M.persicarice. It frequently happens that larvae in June and July 

 are most abimdant, so much so that scarcely a leaf is left on the trees ; 

 yet very few images are the result of this abundance, owing to the 

 thousands of ichneumons destroying the larvae ; this is no doubt a 

 provision of nature to keep down the excess of lepidopterous insects 

 in their larval state ; but unfortunately the ichneumons are not wise 

 enough to know when to leave off to please the collector, and the 

 result is that imagos are scarce, to the great discomfort of the 

 entomologist. 



Should the weather continue severe, — and we have really a hard 

 winter, — the probabilities are that the coming season will be a good one, 

 as from experience I have always found that after a mild winter the 

 insects are very scarce, and after a hard one they are very plentiful. 

 A mild winter is also very hurtful to hybernating larvae, as the damp- 

 ness induces fungoid growth in their bodies, which destroys them ; the 



