PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. 91 



Iro-niagnetic apparatus. It then occurred to me that this phenome- 

 non (the shock from the magnet not being felt beyond the elbow 

 joints) would seem to warrant the supposition that the electric mat- 

 ter differed in degree and intensity according to the media through 

 which it is transmitted. 



I am. Gentlemen, 



Your obedient servant, 



J. L. Levison. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The ordinary meeting was held on Monday evening, Mr. Ste- 

 phens, President, in the chair. Mr. Bowerbank exhibited some spe- 

 cimens of cork, which had been greatly injured by a species of 

 Dermestes. The vessel in which the cork was brought over to the 

 docks had previously contained a cargo of hoofs, horns, and bones, 

 from which the insects were produced. A great deal of injury had 

 also been done to the mast of the ship, which would have to be re- 

 placed ; and it was even feared that the vessel itself was destroyed. 

 The insects had already committed very extensive ravages in the lo- 

 calities of Saffron Hill and Whitechapel, where they attacked the 

 posts in all directions, and were also very common in Wapping. Mr, 

 B. suggested, for their destruction, the essential oil of almonds, the 

 vapour of wliich would probably be effectual.— Mr. Bainbridgc exhi- 

 bited a small species of Moth, which had been very injurious to Ap- 

 ple trees in the neighbourhood of Lambeth ; in many cases the loaves 

 were destroyed altogether. The cocoons are formed on the leaves, 

 which soon become covered with webs so strong that, in many cases, 

 the young leaves cannot burst through them ; but the larger leaves of 

 Apple trees escape, and Pears are but rarely attacked. — Mr. West- 

 wood detailed an entomological visit lately made to Paris ; and, 

 amongst other subjects, he noticed a disease called muscadine, with 

 which Silk-worms have been very extensively attacked in Franco. 

 The malady, like a parasite, gradually envelopes the whole body in a 

 white fungus, and destroys the worm ; the mischief being produced 

 by the explosion of a fungus, which is taken in by the spiracles or 

 pores of the skin, as has been proved l)y M. Audouin, who has inocu- 



