418 Linncean 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.L.S. , 

 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. Forstein, 

 being so much more plentiful than the assumed parents, to say 

 nothing of the very minute seeds, so diflFerent 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. & L.S. 



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 w'ithin 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 



