On the Cladoniei in the Hookerian Herbarium at Kew, 99 



These numbers superabundantly prove, it seems to me, that 

 the Sphex cannot raise by flight alone an additional weight even 

 equal to its own ; moreover I greatly doubt whether, in the case 

 of caterpillars exceeding this weight, or even merely equalling 

 it, these insects do more than drag them along, as is shown by a 

 curious observation made by the naturalist Boitard*, who saw 

 this same Sphex sabulosa just mentioned, despairing of conveying 

 by flight a caterpillar which it had just killed, get astride of its 

 victim, raise this a little by means of its intermediate legs, and 

 drag it to a great distance by walking with its anterior and pos- 

 terior feet. It is therefore almost traction only that we have to 

 do with here ; and we know, from my investigations, how great 

 may be the strength of insects under these circumstances. 



XXI. — Notulce Lichenologicce. No. XII. 

 By the Rev. W. A. Leighton, B.A., F.L.S. 



On the Cladoniei in the Hookerian Herbarium at Kew. 



Since the publication of my paper on the Cladoniei in the 

 November Number of the 'Annals,^ I have accidentally dis- 

 covered that if the hypochlorite of lime be immediately applied 

 to specimens of Cladonice already moistened with hydrate of 

 potash, some very remarkable reactions are produced. For in- 

 stance, if only a very slight and scarcely observable yellow reaction 

 be produced by the hydrate of potash, the immediate application 

 of the hypochlorite of lime will bring out a full-coloured yellow 

 reaction, which colour may either remain permanent or be 

 eventually obliterated. This reaction is symbolized hereafter thus, 

 K f -f- C -j- . In other cases, where the hydrate of potash produces 

 a yellow reaction, that reaction is still further increased by the 

 hypochlorite of lime (symbolized K+ C4-). Again, where the 

 hydrate of potash brings out a yellow reaction, that coloured 

 reaction is immediately obliterated by the hypochlorite of lime 

 (symbolized K^-C — ). Again, where the hydrate of potash pro- 

 duces no reaction at all, the application of the hypochlorite of 

 lime excites a most distinct and full yellow reaction (symbolized 

 K— C-f ). And, lastly, in some species there is a double nega- 

 tive reaction, or, rather, no reaction at all takes place (symbolized 

 K-C-). 



This new mode of testing enables us to distinguish more 

 accurately and definitely the limits of the diff'erent species or 

 forms, and appears to afibrd a more satisfactory confirmation 

 than that obtained by the application of the hydrate of potash 

 alone. 



* Curiosit^s d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 1862, p. 92. 



