272 British Association for the Advancement of Science. 
in the ear, and often prove destructive; and the Chairman observed 
that it was rare to see a drove of oxen in Cuba exempt from the 
attacks of noxious insects, but which, instead of being prejudicial, 
were considered beneficial to the animals. 
Mr. Halliday laid upon the table some plates of the Argas Persi- 
cus, exhibited by Dr. Traill ; he stated that there were two genera, 
the Argas and Ixodes, that produced these poisonous bites.—The 
President observed, that ‘ bite’ was an improper term for the wounds 
of these animals. ‘They were produced by the introduction of their 
long serrated proboscis, and the ill effects frequently attendant on 
these wounds, he thought, arose from the violent extraction of this 
serrated rostrum. 
Insects not produced by Galvanism.—Mr. Gray offered some re- 
marks on the supposed production of insects, by the experiments of 
Mr. Crosse, and referred to two experiments made by Mr. Children 
in a manner perfectly identical with those of the former. The solu- 
tion of silica was obtained from Mr. Garden in Oxford Street, and 
in one experiment it was sealed up, whilst in the other it was ex- 
posed to the air, but in neither case was there any appearance of 
insects. ‘The insects had been very indefinitely described by Mr. 
Crosse, some having six,-and others eight legs. It was no proof that 
they could not have been produced from the water used in the experi- 
ment because it was boiled, as that would not be sufficient to destroy 
the eges of the insects deposited therein. Rev. Mr. Hope remark- 
ed one peculiarity, that no one had given the insects a specific name, 
and that they merely appeared to belong to the commonest species 
of Acarii—Tbe Chairman mentioned the circumstance, that the 
seeds and germs of animals and vegetables are earlier and more 
quickly developed in a current of electricity, and that in all proba- 
bility, these favorable circumstances operated upon the eggs of the 
insects produced in question. It was well known that seeds would 
retain their vitality for an indefinite period of time, and there was 
no reason why any limit should be put to the vitality of the eggs of 
animals.—Mr. Gray stated that prussic acid had lately been used for 
the purpose of destroying insects at the British Museum, particularly 
those infesting amummy. Some of the larve of the common Musca 
having been put into the acid, remained uninjured after two or three 
days exposure,—Prof. Graham remarked, that other plants and ani- 
mals might be kept for an indefinite length of time, when the pow- 
ers of life were either retained or suspended. He also alluded to 
