PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 51 



for tliem. All our best naturalists were wont to refer novelties 

 to themselves to those who worked at a special branch. 



The co-operation of non-members might be secured by making 

 them honorary members, under the powers of a rule wliich enabled 

 the Society to make such any person residing out of Brighton or Hove 

 who contributed specimens or interesting matter. 



There was one other suggestion, that all who might be induced to 

 co-operate in carrying out the good work be asked, while securing a 

 specimen for theii* own herbarium, cabinet or collection, to obtain a 

 dxiplicate and forward it to the Society for the Brighton Free Museum, 

 or such other local museums as might from time to time arise in other 

 parts of the county. Local museums should be rich in local objects, 

 and while he hoped to see in time the Brighton Museum a great edu- 

 cational institution, well supplied with objects, arranged, as was in- 

 tended, with a view to their educational value, he also hoped it would 

 be the nucleus from which similar institutions might spring up in 

 other parts of the county. 



After a very cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Wonfor, a discussion 

 followed, in which Messrs. O. A. Fox, T. H. Hennah, E. Glaisyer, 

 Sewell, F. W. Phillips, J. C. Onions, Wonfor, and the President took 

 part, the oj)inion being generally expressed that if Mr. Wonfor's sug- 

 gestions were carried out they would mark an important era in the 

 Society's history. Eventually it was resolved " that the Society 

 approves the suggestions embodied in Mr. Wonfor's paper, and requests 

 the committee to consider the best mode of carrying out the same, and 

 to report to a future meeting." 



South London Microscopical and Natural History Club. 



An ordinary meeting of this Club was held on Tuesday, May 20th, 

 at Glo'ster Hall, Glo'ster Place, Brixton Road. Robert Braithwaite, 

 Esq., M.D., F.L.S., presided. 



Mr. E. P. Pett read a paper " On the Aphis, or Green Fly." 

 After a minute description of the form and structure of the insect, the 

 reader passed on to the consideration of the modes of reproduction. 

 Much had been written on the subject, but all authorities aj^peared to 

 agree that in the spring the warming sun and air acted ujion the eggs 

 laid in the previous autumn. In due course the eggs were hatched, 

 and the young aphis emerged, wingless. After changing its skin 

 three or four times, it commenced, without interposition of a male, to 

 give birth to living wingless young, who in their turn became mothers, 

 and so the lineage descended for many generations. Occasionally 

 an aphis at its birth appeared similar to its predecessors, but at the 

 last change but one of its skin it possessed rudimentary wings, which 

 became fully developed on the final change taking j)lace. The 

 multiplication of these insects was extremely large, though different 

 statements were made as to the average rate at which young were 

 produced ; one authority stating it at three, and another at fourteen 

 per diem. Schrank, starting from Bonnet's observations, calculated 

 the progeny of a single aphis during one summer at 23,740,000 ; 



