MELANISM m YOKKSHIKE LEPIDOPTERA. §23 



because I am convinced we liave no reason to believe that at any formei? 

 time our melanic species were dark ; and if they were, there is still less 

 probability, nay, possibility, that they should revert to such forms, 

 unless the atmospheric and all other conditions of their former existence 

 were again to become the same. 



As I stated at the beginning of my remarks, I only undertook to 

 introduce the subject, with a view to eliciting possible theories from 

 others, and if, from the facts I have given, any satisfactory deduction 

 can be drawn, our time this morning will not have been wasted. 



Madrejjomria of the Bervmda Idaiuls. — Report of (he Committee^ 

 considing of Professor S. J. HiCKSON (Ghairman), Dr. W. E. 

 HoYLE {Secretarij), Dr. F. F. Blackman, Mr. J. S. Gardiner, 

 Professor W. A. Herdman, Mr. A. C. Seward, Professor C. S. 

 Sherrington, and Mr. A. G. Tansley, appointed to conduct an 

 investigation into the Madreporaria of the Bermuda Islands. 



The Committee report that they have been unable to secure the services 

 of a competent naturalist to carry on this investigation. The Committee 

 do not ask to be reappointed. 



Occupation of a Table at the Marine Lahoratory, Plymouth. — Report of 

 the Committee, consisting of Mr. W. Garstang {Chairmani and 

 f^ecretarij), Professor E. Ray Lankester, Mr. A. Sedgwick, Pro- 

 fessor Sydney H. Vines, and Professor W. F. R. Weldon. 



The Committee beg leave to report that Miss Sollas was Unable to occupy 

 the table at Plymouth this year, and consequently it was not filled. As 

 the Association is entitled as a Governor of the Marine Biological Associa- 

 tion to nominate to a table at the Laboratory for one month in each year*, 

 the Committee ask to be reappointed without a grant. 



Colour-phijsiologij of the Higher Crustacea. — Report of the Covi^ 

 initfce, consistinr/ of Professor S. J. HiCKSON (Chairnian), Dr; 

 F. W. GAmLF.' (Secretary), Dr. W. E. Hoyle, a)id Mr. F. W. 

 Keeble, appointed to enable Dr. F. W. Gamble and Mr. Keeble 

 to conduct Researches on the relation between Respiratory Phenomena 

 and Colour Changes in the Higher Crustacea. 



During the past summer Dr. Gamble and Mr. Keeble have carried out 

 a further spell of experimental work at Tregastel, Brittany, on the origin 

 and functions of the pigmented cells (zoochlorellaj) of Convoluta. The 

 results were communicated to the Royal Society in November by 

 Professor Hickson, F.R.S., and published in the ' Proceedings ' under the 

 title 'Isolation of the Infecting Organism of Convoluta roscoffensis.' 



The organism which Messrs. Ciaml)le and Keeble have isolated has 

 close relations with the Chlamydomonadina". By suitable methods 

 culture of this organism have been obtained on the egg-capsules of 

 Convoluta. When taken from these cultures samples of the organism 



