96 



contributed the following notes : — " (Syn. Prayer beads, 

 Jumble beads, Indian liquorice.) They are the seeds of 

 Abrus precatorius (Leguminosse), of a scarlet colour with a 

 black patch round the hilum, and are probably harmless 

 when eaten, but poisonous when placed in wounds or under 

 the skin. The plant is a climber, and has pea-like flowers 

 of a reddish purple. By some it is called wild liquorice, on 

 account of the flavour of the leaves when chewed. An infu- 

 sion of the seeds is used to produce purulent ophthalmia for 

 the cure of granular lids. Convicts in Mauritius have been 

 known to use it for applying to their eyes to induce illness. 

 The irritation thus caused is supposed to be due to a bacillus 

 or a pepsin-like ferment. These seeds have a uniform weight, 

 and the natives use them as a standard. It has been stated 

 that their weight is the origin of the carat of gold." 



The Report of the Ranmore Common Field Meeting, con- 

 ducted by Mr. J. H. Carpenter and Mr. E. Step, was read 

 (page 46). 



'JULY 24i/i, 1902. 



Mr, F, NoAD Clark, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. F. M. B. Carr exhibited bred examples oi Aniphidasys 

 hetidaria. The primaries were black, dusted with white scales; 

 secondaries, pale ; fore-part of head, whitish; abdomen, black. 

 The twelve specimens, which represent the entire brood, 

 were bred this year from ova deposited by a black female 

 taken in cop. with a t3'pical male at Lee last summer. 



Mr. Kemp exhibited numerous species of Irish Coleoptera 

 taken by him mainly in the neighbourhood of Dublin during 

 April, May, June, and July, 1902, and contributed the 

 following notes : 



Lcemostenus coinplanatiis, Dej., a species new to the British 

 list, and closely allied to Pristonychus tcrricola. About two 

 dozen specimens were taken under a fallen wall on sandy 

 soil near Dublin in June, 1902. The species seems to have 

 a wide distribution, being found all round the Mediterranean, 

 and also in Madeira, Bermuda, St. Helena, and Chili. The 

 species is probably an importation, but is evidently well 

 established. 



Carahus clathratus, Pelophila burealis, Blcthisa niidtipunctata, 

 Chlcsnius nigricornis, dark forms of Pterostichns ciiprens and 

 Beuibidinm bipnnciatnni, all taken under stones on the shores 

 of Lough Neagh, near Belfast. 



