34 



cripples this year, and that all were malfornicd on the 

 same side. 



Mr. E. Step exhibited some splendid specimens of the 

 Morel {Morchella esculenta, L.), of large proportions (6| 

 inches high), received from Mr. Charles M. Penly, of Wotton- 

 under-Edge, Gloucestershire, where they were then fairly 

 common in woods, meadows, and on banks by the roadsides, 

 in very dissimilar forms and sizes. 



Mr. Adye communicated a note that in the New Forest 

 the oak was in full leaf, that Vanessa polychloros, L., and 

 Gonopteryx r/iamni, L., were very common, and that Lyccsna 

 argiobis, L., had been seen. Mr. Carpenter said that V. 

 polychloros was very common last season, but had suddenly 

 gone into hybernation very early. Mr. Adkin said it was 

 chaiacteristic of most of the Vanessidse to remain only a 

 limited time on the wing prior to hybernation. 



Mr. Step said that everything seemed again to betoken a 

 short spring and an early summer. The bluebell was in 

 flower, the chestnut spikes were very forward, the cuckoo 

 had been heard at Holmwood on the 5th inst., and the 

 nightingale some {q.sn days previously, while many members 

 had seen Pieris rapes, L., at Easter. 



The President said that for years he had been in the habit 

 of finding toads lying dead around the edges of ponds at this 

 time of the year, every one of them having the abdomen slit 

 open, and he had put it down to the cruelty of thoughtless 

 boys. However, just recently he had been able to prove that 

 ducks were the delinquents. He had repeatedly seen them 

 dive, and having seized a toad by the leg, drag him to the 

 surface. Then, having deftly turned it over, the duck would 

 most viciously tear open the abdomen, but carefully avoid the 

 back where the acrid glands are situated. A considerable 

 discussion ensued, Messrs. C. G. Barrett, Winkley, and 

 others taking part. 



APRIL 26ih, 1894. 



E. Step, Esq., Presidetit, in the Chair. 



Rev. M. Corden Jones and Mr. Francis Fell were elected 

 members. 



Mr. Dennis exhibited a male specimen o[ Pararge egeria, 

 L., which varied from the typical form in having the light 

 markings very much reduced in area and the dark markings 



