41S: Linnean Society. 
A Portrait of the late Sir Joseph Banks, Baronet, K.B., painted 
by the late Thomas Phillips, Esq., R.A.; presented by Captain Sir 
E. Home, Bart., R.N. 
A Lithographed Portrait of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of 
Norwich, Pres. L.S., by T. H. Maguire ; presented by G. Ransome, 
Esq., F.L.S. 
There were also presented by W. A. Bromfield, M.D., F.LS., 
specimens of a Luzula growing abundantly at Apse Castle, near 
Shanklin, Isle of Wight, and described by Dr. Bromfield as having 
the divaricate and reflexed panicle of L. pilosa, with the fruit of 
L. Forsteri, excepting that the seeds are scarcely above one-third or 
one-fourth the size of those of the latter species. ‘The capsules (not 
yet ripe) seem to be naturally smaller than in L. Forsteri, and much 
shorter than the sepals, which thus appear to conceal them. Be- 
sides their much smaller size, the seeds of the plant exhibited appear 
to be rounder than in L. Forsteri, with a still shorter and very 
obtuse appendage, and to come later to maturity than in that or 
L. pilosa, as was shown by the accompanying specimens of both, 
in which the capsules had attained to nearly their full dimensions, 
whilst those of the new plant were much less advanced. This new 
form is the prevailing one at Apse Castle, greatly exceeding either 
of the two others or L. sylvatica (which also grows there) in quan- 
tity, and is extremely plentiful on dry sloping banks amongst bushes, 
and either growing alone or intermixed with the other three. The 
form of the seeds proves, in Dr. Bromfield’s opinion, that it cannot be 
a variety of L. pilosa, whilst their very small size and the form of 
the capsule militate against its connection with L. Forsteri. So 
far as yet observed, the plant is taller than either of these, with 
longer roots and lower stem leaves; the leaves as broad as in L. 
pilosa, and from their greater length more lax or drooping at 
their extremities. The panicle, though much like that of L. pilosa, 
would seem to be less compounded, and narrower or more oblong 
in contour, and this last character coupled with the small size of 
the capsules first drew Dr. Bromfield’s attention to what he would 
otherwise have regarded as merely L. pilosa. It seems impro- 
bable that it should be a hybrid between L. pilosa and L. Forsteri, 
being so much more plentiful than the assumed parents, to say 
nothing of the very minute seeds, so different in this respect from 
those of either. Dr. Bromfield has not met with it as yet in any 
other locality but that above mentioned. 
June 5.—Thomas Horsfield, M.D., V.P., in the Chair. 
Read a paper “On Ichneumon Atropos, Curt.’’ By George New- 
port, Esq., F.R.S. & LS. 
Several years ago the author obtained many specimens of this in- 
sect both in the larva and perfect states at Canterbury, chiefly in the 
year 1829, but he has not met with them since 1834. He has taken 
the perfect insect in the month of July, and has many times reared 
it from the larva state in which it is a parasite within the body of 
the larva of Sphinx ligustri, on which he considers it to be more 
common than on that of Acherontia Atropos. Mr. Newport gives 
