11 



vitis. At that time it had only been observed at Wakefield 

 and Huddersfield in this country, but on the east coast of 

 Scotland it had been reported from several localities." 



Mr. Rowden exhibited thirty-five species of dried plants, 

 representative of the fifty kinds noted in flower during the 

 Field Meeting of the Society at Oxshott on May igth. 



Dr. Chapman exhibited bred specimens of Orgyia antiqua 

 from the South of France, and noted that the black markings 

 were much more intense than in the English form. 



Mr. Turner exhibited a cactus plant, MannniUaria minima, 

 showing about twenty heads. He stated that the genus 

 Maniniillaria derives its name from the stem being covered 

 by mamma-like tubercles, each surmounted by a rosette 

 of spines, which in the 500 or more species contained 

 in the genus showed infinite variety in form, size, and 

 arrangement. The headquarters of the genus was Mexico, 

 a few only being found in adjacent countries. They always 

 grow where the sunlight is intense. 



Mr. Clark exhibited microphotographs of the ova of 

 Cyaniris argiolus, Polyommatns hellargus, Enchloe cardaniincs, 

 Hndena genistce, and Ematurga atomaria. The ova were 

 kindly given to him by Mr. Montgomery. 



Mr. Fred. Knock exhibited living specimens of Ranatra 

 linearis, together with a leaf-stem of Alisma, in which were 

 laid 107 eggs, the work, no doubt, of several Ranatrce ; the 

 other stem on the same plant had 97 eggs in it. 



Mr. Knock had several times observed the Ranatrce ovi- 

 positing in leaves of water ranunculus, Potamogeton, and 

 Alisma, butthey seem to prefer the stems of the latter, living 

 and dead. The Ranatra crawls upon a leaf, and taking hold 

 firml)' with her second and third legs, she raises the head three 

 quarters of an inch from the leaf. The raptorial legs being 

 placed flat together and held in a line with the abdomen, 

 the tip of which is depressed until it almost touches the leaf. 

 The ovipositor is then extruded and pressed against the 

 surface ; a forward and downward movement being given, 

 it is slowly driven right through the leaf, and then almost 

 withdrawn, the egg, which is over an eighth of an inch long, 

 being then extruded and forced into the hole until the head 

 end just projects above. Kach egg has two long filaments, 

 which, immediately the egg is fixed into position, spring 

 open, and so form with the egg the letter " Y," thus pre- 

 venting the egg, which projects through and underneath the 

 leaf, from slipping through. 



From the eggs of Ranatra Mr. Knock has bred both male 



