95 



Mr. Coote exhibited two specimens of Hybernia defoliaria 

 from Surrey, one a rich, dark form, and the other a finely 

 banded example. 



Mr. Dennis exhibited a branch of Piiius sylvcstris with an 

 abnormal growth, " witches' broom." Mr. Step said that it 

 was caused by the fungus Periderminin elatimnn. 



Mr. Moore exhibited a representative series from various 

 parts of the world of the chief groups of noxious blood- 

 sucking flies, injurious to man and his domestic animals, and 

 now recognised as of great economic importance as preju- 

 dicial to the health and welfare of the colonists and dwellers 

 in those countries where they are found. Popularly known 

 and detested as " forest flies " in northern climes, where they 

 are annoying rather than hurtful, in the tropics many of them 

 are now known to be the chief agents in conveying various 

 fatal diseases. Amongst the specimens shown were : Glossina 

 sp. ? an undetermined species from Lake Chad ; G. palpalis, 

 which is responsible for the spread of the dreaded sleeping- 

 sickness ; Tabanus africanus (Gray), also from Lake Chad, 

 a handsome fly found over the greater part of Africa, 

 but only recently recorded from N. Nigeria, whose bite 

 is reported to be fatal to horses over the whole area of 

 its distribution ; T. autumnalis, the moose fly of Newfound- 

 land, and Chrysops scpnlchrnlis, the caribou fly, which not only 

 influence the movements of the deer in Newfoundland, but 

 are also particularly offensive to anglers and sportsmen there ; 

 and Pangonia marginella from the Adriatic, ei near relative of 

 the camel fly, which regulates the migrations of the camel 

 breeders and their herds in North Africa. Microscopical 

 preparations of the mouth parts were also shown. 



Mr. W. West (Ashtead) exhibited a specimen of the 

 " silver-fish " insect, Lepisnia sacchnrina, which had existed 

 two months without food. It was remarked how destructive 

 a creature it was, books and papers often being considerably 

 damaged by its presence. He also exhibited the scales of 

 this primitive insect under the microscope. 



Numerous ver}' fine exhibits of microscopical slides were 

 shown by members. Among the more striking objects seen 

 were the beautiful slide of diatoms of Mr. F. N. Clarke, 

 radulae of molluscs by Mr. Priske, pollen of various plants, 

 the curious " fans" of a dipterous larva, polyzoa, foramini- 

 fera, beautiful colonies of Volvox globator, etc., by other 

 members. 



Mr. R. Adkin showed under a Zeiss binocular sundry 

 small Lepidoptera, inclnding Euchromia arbutclla, Hyperniccia 



