1064 REPORT—1885. 
forms, such as do occur frequently growing on the sea cliffs, e.g., Sausswrea 
alpina (D.C.). The most characteristic plant of the Caithness cliff-pastures is 
Primula Scotica (Hook.), which occurs very abundantly all along the east and 
north coast of the county. It flowers three times a year, and is generally 
found in conjunction with Scilla verna (Huds.), and occasionally with Oxytropis 
Hallert (Bunge). Of the flora of the moist, sandy ‘links,’ or downs, Juncus 
Balticus (Willd.), Carex incurva (Lightf.), Carex pauciflora (Lightf.), Blysmus 
rufus (Link), and Viola Curtisii (Forster), var., are typical representatives. 
Carex aquatilis (Wahl.) var. Watsonii is common to nearly all the streams of the 
county. A Carex new to Britain, viz., Carex salina (Wahl.) var. Kattegatensis 
(Fries)—the Norwegian ‘saltvands star’—was discovered last year near the 
mouth of the Wick River. It is somewhat like C. paludosa (Good.) in appearance, 
with long, aristate, and dark purple-coloured glumes, and is a native of Iceland, 
Lapland, and Scandinavia. Critical genera, such as Salix and Hieraciwm, are well 
represented in Caithness, but there are few Rose. The nature of the surface is 
not favourable to the growth of aquatic plants. Nuphar pumilum (Sm.) and several 
Potamogetons and Chars may be got on some of the lochs, There has this year 
been made out in Caithness a new British grass, Calamagrostis strigosa (Hartm.) 
—the Scandinavian ‘ stivhaaret ror’—which is somewhat like C. stricta (Nutt). It 
grows in marshy ground near Castletown. Hierochloa borealis (R. and §.), dis- 
covered by Dick, has almost disappeared from Caithness for the last twenty years, 
but this year it has been observed on the Thurso River many miles up. The 
northern and exposed position of Caithness causes slight differences of form and 
structure in many plants, compared with more southern forms, 
5. On Chinese Insect White Wax. By A. Hoste. 
The author began with a reference to the European and Chinese writers who 
mention Chinese insect white wax. He goes on to say that, although the province 
of Ssu-chuan, in Western China, where he has been stationed for the last three 
years, is the chief wax-insect and wax-producing country in the empire, insects 
and wax are found in other provinces. Mr. Hosie was called upon by the Foreign 
Office to collect for Sir Joseph Hooker specimens connected with, and all possible 
information on, the subject of this industry, and he states that the present paper is 
a revision, with additions, of a report already published in a Parliamentary paper 
in February last. He describes the insect-producing country, the tree on which 
the insects are propagated, the insects themselves, and their transit from the valley 
of Chien-chang, their breeding-ground, in the west of Ssu-chuan, across the moun- 
tains to Chia-ting Fu, the habitat of the wax tree. This tree is then described, and 
details are given of the treatment of the insects, their suspension on the trees, the 
depositing of the wax, and of a parasite on the insects. The method of removing 
the wax from the branches of the tree and of preparing it for market is then ex- 
plained. The author then detailed the result of an examination of the insects 
after the wax has been fully deposited, finally passing to the annual quantity of 
insect white wax produced, its value and uses. 
6. On the Existence of Cephalopoda in the Deep Sea. By W. EH. Hoyts. . 
Evidence of the existence of Cephalopoda in the deep sea has hitherto been 
wanting, but a certain amount seems to be now forthcoming in the case of the 
genera Cirroteuthis, Bathyteuthis and Mastigoteuthis. 
None of these forms (except one species of Czrroteuthis from the arctic seas) 
were known prior to the days of deep sea investigation, nor have any of them been 
taken by a surface net, nor by any other means than a dredge or trawl which had 
been down into deep water. 
The genus Bathyteuthis seems to present structural peculiarities fitting it for an 
abyssal existence, in certain of which it agrees with Mastiyoteuthis, although they 
differ markedly in other respects. . 
