246 Prof. Hughes, Exhibition of decayed wood. [June 4, 
The earthworm was noticed crawling out of the earth and retreat- 
ing in an irregular manner that roused suspicion. On turning up 
the earth containing the worm hole and opening it along the line 
of the burrow an enlarged portion or chamber was exposed in 
which a small grub about # inch long, enveloped in slime dis- 
charged by the wounded worm, still held on to it about 14 inch 
from the tail, This worm was not yet much injured but in a case 
previously observed the last inch-and-a-half was nearly severed. 
What struck the observer most was the apparent paralysis of 
the worm when seized by the larva. Though about 100 times as 
large and half-way out of the ground, the worm appeared to be 
firmly held and either forced to retract itself by the pain of the 
wound or actually dragged back into the hole where it was at the 
mercy of its enemy. 
(2) Hahibition of blue-green decayed wood. By Professor 
HUGHES. 
The author exhibited some specimens of blue-green decayed 
wood in which the colouring matter had penetrated to the heart 
of the wood though the wood was still so sound that it could be 
sawn across. Whatever the colouring matter might be it was 
capable of being worked up by wasps in making their paper nests. 
He quoted several different though perhaps with some modifica- 
tions not all of them contradictory opinions as to the origin of the 
colour, (1) that it was directly due to a microscopic fungus, 
(2) that it was indirectly caused by a saprophytic organism but 
was due to the carrying of the colouring matter from that organism 
by moisture along the tissue of the wood, (8) that it was an 
organic salt of iron, the organic acid being derived from the 
decomposing woody tissue and therefore not necessarily connected 
with any secondary growth. 
He asked for further information as to the mode of diffusion 
of the colouring matter seeing that all circulation must have 
ceased in the dead wood; and also as to the cells or tissues affected 
by it. 
(8) Note on Beekite. By Professor HUGHES. 
The author explained the mode of occurrence of the form of 
chalcedony known as Beekite, and pointed out that the usual 
description, viz. that 1t was deposited on fossil organisms, was not 
quite correct, as it replaced portions of the limestone included in the 
New Red brecciated conglomerates whether they contained fossils 
or not. The only influencing condition appeared to be the presence, 
a greater or smaller quantity, of organic matter in the limestone, 
as he observed that it was more apt to occur on the fragments of 
bituminous limestone than on those of the more altered crystalline 
rock. 
