107 



4th November. 



Present : Mr. Caracciolo (President), Col. D.Wilson, C.M.G., 

 Professor Carmody, Hon. R. Guppy, Messrs. E. D. Ewen, G. 

 Valil, F. Eagle. R. R Mole, G. Keed, H. Tate, W. E. Broadway, 

 W. G. Hewlett, C. J Thavenot, F J. Mahoney, Syl. Devenisli, 

 M.A., .lean Petersen, T. I. Potter, 0. C. Malcolm, V. Wilson 

 and F. W. Urich. 



Jn the absence of Mr. Taitt, Mr. Urich acted as Secretary. 

 The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The 

 following orcntlemen were elected members of the Club : The 

 Hon. J. B. Smythe and the Hon. Edgar Agostini, Mr. Til. Sor- 

 zano and Ur. Woodyatt. 



Mr. Mole said that in a recent number of the Illustrated 

 London News there was a woodcut of and an article on a Mygalc 

 spider from 'I rinidad presented to the Zoological Society of 

 London by Mr. Terr}'. There seemed to be some doubt as to 

 the effect of its bite — whether it was poisonous — and he would 

 be very glad if any of the members present could give him any 

 infoimation on the subject His own opinion was that it was 

 not, or at any rate only slightly so. A short discussion ensued 

 in which the President, Messrs. Devenish and Potter, and (. ol. 

 W^ilson took part, with the result that as far as the knowledge 

 of these gentlemen went, it was ascertained, that they had never 

 heard of any death taking place from a Mygale's bite, although 

 it was very painful, causing fever and severe local inflaniation. 



The following papers were read : Mr. Urich : " Biological 

 and Faunisiic notes on Trinidad" from the German by Dr. J. von 

 Kennel ; Mr Potter : " Notes on Cane Borers." 



Mr. J. Mitchell of Tacarigua having presented a fine adult 

 female of the Galictis harhara to the Club, the animal was 

 exhibited by the I'resideut, who said it was shot a few weeks 

 ago by the donor on his estate Mr. Broadway proposed a vote 

 of thanks to Mr. Mitchell for this really valuable gift, seconded 

 b}- Mr. Devenish and unanimously carried. Mr. Urich said that 

 this animal was found all oA^er tropical South America and, as 

 our fauna was more continental than insular it was also found 

 here pretty frequ<ntly. Its habits were much the same as those 

 of the marten It was carnivorous and exhibited a marked 

 liking for fowls. It was said that in some localities it was kept 

 like a cat in the house to catch rats and mice. The luale had a 

 prettier fur and a more bushy tail than the female. 



Mr. Mole exhibited on behalf of Mr. J. Guilbert, a country 

 men ber who was unable to be present, some earth containing a 

 fungus, said to be very injurious to cocoa and ground provisions. 

 The President said ho would send it away for identification. 



