94 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



times by the ordinary sexual method and sometimes by the 

 vegetative, according to the temperature prevailing at the place 

 where they are growing. 



In numerous cases we see that the reason for the adaptation of 

 a plant is obvious, even though it be, so to speak, grafted on to a 

 primary or even secondary adaptation ; but there are large series- 

 of forms where we are unable to explain form and structure or 

 colour by any known relationship with environment. Have we 

 here examples of purely indiscriminate variation, or do we merely 

 proclaim our ignorance ? For instance, we can explain the 

 colours of flowers, but so far we cannot fully explain the colours 

 of the larger fungi which exhibit almost as striking a variation, 

 and we must be very careful about drawing conclusions. 



Mr. C. D. Soar gave a description of the male and nymph of 

 Oxus plantaris, a mite of which previously only the female had 

 been described. The specimens were collected by Mr. G. T» 

 Harris on Dartmoor, and form an interesting addition to the 

 British Hydracarina. 



The Secretary read an abstract of a paper by Mr. Geo. West,, 

 of Dundee, on Amphora inflexa, a rare marine diatom. 



The thanks of the meeting were accorded to Messrs. Soar and 

 West, and to the President for the continuation of his interesting 

 address. 



At the 542nd Ordinary Meeting of the Club, held on April 8th, 

 1919, the President, Dr. A. B. Kendle, F.R.S., in the chair, the 

 minutes of the meeting held on March 11th were read and con- 

 firmed. 



Messrs. F. Stanhope Bilbrough, Hy. Guy Martin, Walter 

 Russell and C. Howard Thomas were balloted for and duly 

 elected members of the Club ; five nominations were read for the 

 first time. 



The Secretary announced that the first excursion of the 

 season would take place on Saturday, the 12th inst., at the 

 Royal Botanical Gardens, Regent's Park, the members meeting 

 at the south entrance at 2.30 p.m. 



The President announced the death of the Club's librarian, 

 Mr. L. George. The members expressed their regret and their 

 appreciation of Mr. George's services to the Club. The President 



