436 Linnaan Society. 



suggested the proi^riety of members taking up the old theses of Lin- 

 naeus and bringing down the subjects therein treated upon to the 

 present state of the science. The injurious effects of insects upon 

 agricultural and horticultural productions ought also to engage the 

 attention of the members. He would also recommend the formation 

 of committees, taking up and annually reporting upon the entomo- 

 logy of the various geographical districts : and he alluded to the 

 great loss the Society and science had sustained by the deaths of 

 Dr. Goodall, Mr. Vigors, and Major Gyllenhal. 



It was announced that the caterpillar of one of the Noctuidce which 

 devours the roots of turnips should be again proposed as the subject 

 of the essay for the prize of ten guineas, offered by the Society in 

 conjunction with the Saffron Walden Agricultural Society. 



The Rev. F. W. Hope also announced his intention of giving a 

 prize of £10 for the best essay on the insects which attack apple and 

 pear trees, with the best remedy for their destruction. 



LINN.EAN SOCIETY. 



March 2, 1841.— Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. 



Read a " Note on the Preservation of Specimens of Natural 

 History." By Hyde Clarke, Esq., F.L.S. 



Mr. Clarke suggests the application of Payne's apparatus for the 

 preservation of animal substances for domestic ])urpo£es, to the pre- 

 servation of objects of Natural History. The a2)j)aratus consists of 

 an iron cylinder, in which the subject for preparation is placed, and 

 the air-tight cover screwed down. The air is then exhausted by 

 means of an air-pump, and when a sufficient exhaustion has been 

 effected, a cock is opened communicating with a vessel containing 

 the antiseptic fluid, which, on being admitted, thoroughly pene- 

 trates the object to be preser\'ed, impregnating even the marrow of 

 the bones. He adds, that the process is useful not only for the 

 prevention of putrefaction, but also in arresting its progress, the 

 gases generated during putrefaction being expelled from the re- 

 ceiver along with the air, and their place supplied by the antiseptic. 



March 16.— Mr. Brown, V.P., in the Chair. 



Read " On an edible Fungus from Tierra del Fuego, and an allied 

 Chilian species." By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. 



Mr. Berkeley describes these two species as constituting a new 

 genus, which he characterizes as follows : — 



CYTTARIA. 



Reccptacula carnoso-gelatinosa in stroma commune subglobosum, epider- 

 mide crassiuscula vestitum, aggregata ; basi stipitiformi granulafa. 

 Cupula peripherica, primo clausa, gelatinti distenta, demiuu epidermide 

 rupta aperta. Hti)7i<niiuin, niargiiie excepto, separabile. Asci ampli, 

 demum liberi, paraphysibus ininiixtis. Felum persistens, demum 

 vuptum, niargiiie plus minus leflexo. iporii/a pallida. 



Genus B/ik/aiice affine, sed stromate pulvinato ex variis individuis com- 

 jiosifo Sphceriam concentricam quodaminodo referens, et hymenio sepa- 

 rabili valde diversum. Certe ad ser'icm Fezizaruw pertinet, perithecio 

 spurio non obstante. Confer Spliccriam inoiiocarpat/i, Scluuii. ad Pezi- 



