318 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES, 



the West Cliff, at Ramsgate ; whereupon Dr. Mitchinson 

 observed, that it would be interesting to note whether it would 

 maintain its existence there, as many strayed or introduced plants, 

 though flourishing for awhile, sooner or later perished, as he had. 

 seen remarkably exemplified in the common Virginia Stock and 

 other plants. Specimens of the Matted. Thrift, coUected by 

 George Grulliver, jun., between Dover and Folkestone, were laid 

 on the table. Dr. Mitchinson, having transplanted a young 

 Saxifraga longifoUa from its mountain home in Switzerland to a 

 pot in his own garden at Canterbury, found it flourish and bloom 

 admirably, like so many other members of this genus. 



Plant Grystals. — Mr. Grulliver, referring to his communication 

 to the Society, September 14th, 1871, gave extemporaneous 

 demonstrations of the sphaeraphides of the two British species of 

 Mercurialis and of Viburnum Lanfana, remarking that these are 

 good native plants in which to examine the sphseraphides, and 

 that they may be found abundantly in our indigenous Urticaceae, 

 Chenopodiaceae, and many other orders ; while the willows, pop- 

 lars, and many other trees or shrubs, aflbrd plentiful crops of 

 minute crystals of another kind, which are too otten incorrectly 

 called raphides. A slide was shown of Pandanus, from Professor 

 Thiselton Dyer, in which was well seen chains of cells, each cell 

 containing a prismatic crystal, as discovered by Professor Dyer, 

 the chains surrounding the fibro-vascular bundles. Pandanacese 

 is an order long since characterised by raphides ; but the crystals 

 now shown in Professor's Dyer's preparation are of a different 

 form, as described and figured by him in the last vol. of the 

 ' Quart. Journ. Micro. Science.' 



Notes on Ixodes Dugesii. 



Experiments of Dr. Kersey. — This gentleman detailed a series 

 of experiments as to the effect of different reagents in the 

 destruction of these pests, and had not yet arrived at any very 

 satisfactory result. The usual nostrums called "sheep-dips" 

 were all more or less ineffectual. The mercurial liniment of the 

 Pharmacopoea and Brandish's solution of potass seemed to be 

 most destructive to the parasites ; but their tenacity of life is so 

 great and their absorbent powers so little, that they are not easily 

 destroyed by specifics. Mr. G-ardner, whose practical experience 

 had unfortunately been so great, concurred with Dr. Kearsey. 



Anatomical and Pligsiolorjical Observations. — These were under- 

 taken, at the request of the meeting, by Mr. Gulliver ; and some 

 of the results are noted below, fi'om the examination of numerous 

 specimens supplied by Colonel Cox, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Dowker, 

 and Mr. Bell. All the specimens were eight-legged Acarina, 

 belonging to the family Ixodea, and, as asserted, to the species 

 Ixodes Dugesii. No eyes could be detected. 



Sexes. — All the large, lead-coloured specimens were pregnant 

 females. Many of the small ones were also females, but these 

 were commonly of a lead colour, and not red, except in the legs and 



