Wellington Philosophical Society. 433 
pointed out that it is almost impossible to get at the eggs or larve to 
destroy them ; although in the latter state the insects are most mischievous, 
because their presence is not noticed until the withering of the leaves shows 
that they have done their work. Numbers of small birds, to destroy 
the perfect insects before they have time to lay their eggs, seem to be the 
only remedy. A small brown beetle, which makes its appearance in the 
apple trees when the apples are about the size of cherries, is a great pest ; 
it eats the skin, particularly near the stalk, and the apple falls. Mr. 
Huntley first noticed it four or five years ago, and since that time its num- 
bers have enormously increased. In his orchard, this spring, the dropping 
of these insects was like the rattle of a shower of rain on the leaves of the 
trees. They were in millions, and did great damage. He has tried dusting 
with lime, and, on particular trees, tobacco water, soapsuds, and sulphur, but 
without effect. The beetle, however, does not confine its ravages to apple 
trees, but attacks gooseberries, strawberries, cherries, and, to a small extent, 
peaches. It eats the leaves of all these, and of most forest trees, and the 
petals of most flowers, particularly roses and geraniums. Mr. Huntley has 
not been able to find the larv: of this insect, which comes and departs with 
equal suddenness; but suggests that if the larve be on the ground, they 
might be er by the use of ammonia water from gasworks. 
The author laid before the meeting specimens of the insects referred to 
in the paper. 
Mr. Travers directed attention to the necessity of the mould imported 
with plants being either calcined or destroyed immediately upon its arrival, 
as it often contains the larve of destructive foreign insects. 
The Secretary read the following papers :— 
10. “On a proposed Improvement in the mechanical Separation of 
ios from each other in certain Analyses for Alkaloids," by W. Skey. 
ABSTRACT. 
In certain analytical operations, more especially where alkaloids are 
sought for in cases of suspected poisoning, it is necessary to remove liquids 
floating upon others. At present this object is effected, or rather partially 
effected, by manual dexterity. As a substitute for this method, Mr. Skey 
proposes to expel the ether by means of mercury, in some such way as this : 
The stopper is removed from the bottle containing the two fluids, and a 
damp cork hollowed out at its narrow end substituted, inserted into which 
are two tubes, of small bore, one a straight tube, long enough to reach deep 
into the bottle, and to project a few inches above. The other—the delivery 
tube—is U-shaped, and just caps the hollow of the cork with one of its legs. 
The long tube is tightly eonnected with a tap, communicating with a reservoir 
of mercury above. The mercury then being turned on, the whole, or practically 
55 
