2746 Microscopical Society. 



received from Mr. Bates, from Para ; and he exhibited, still living, the specimen of 

 Lamia textor which had been exhibited at the October meeting. 



Mr. Stephens exhibited two specimens of a new British Noctua, which appeared 

 to be the ruticilla of Esper, and which Boisduval places in the genus Orthosia : of 

 these specimens one had been sent to Mr. Shepherd by Mr. Edleston, and the other, 

 which was extremely wasted, was taken by Mr. Stainton, at Sheffield, in June, 1847. 



Mr. Stainton then read a paper on the genus Micropteryx of Zeller, in which he 

 described all the known British species. 



A conversation followed upon the notes which had appeared in the ' Gardener's 

 Chronicle,' on the danger to be apprehended by horticulturists from the attacks on 

 pears by the larvae of Ditula angustiorana, which in some instances referred to were 

 reported to have done some damage to this fruit. Several members concurred in 

 saying that there was but little ground for this opinion, as, except in the instances 

 quoted, this insect had not been observed to have attacked fruit trees, and in fact it 

 was seldom seen in gardens, although its larvae were polyphagous, but that the perfect 

 insect was found in the greatest abundance in firs and yews, often far from gardens. 

 Tortrix laevigana, on the other hand, was known to be very destructive to fruit trees, 

 both foliage and young fruit, and it was supposed some of the ravages attributed to 

 D. angustiorana may have been the work of this species. — H. T. S. 



Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London. 



February 13, 1850 {Anniversary Meeting). — George Busk, Esq., President, in 

 the chair. 



Addresses from the Council and Auditors, relating to the present state, prospects 

 and funds of the Society, were read and approved. 



The President then read an address, in which he gave a lucid review of the 

 Society's proceedings during the past year, including abstracts of papers read, very 

 similar to those that have already appeared in the pages of the ' Zoologist.' He con- 

 cluded by urging on the Society the great importance of publishing Transactions 

 with regularity, and suggested that it would answer a good purpose if the parts could 

 appear more frequently, even though they contained a smaller quantity of matter. 



A vote of thanks was passed to the President and Council, and the President's 

 address was ordered to be printed. 



It was proposed, seconded, and unanimously resolved, that an addition be made 

 to the by-laws, to the following effect: " That all members who have passed the chair 

 shall in future be members of Council without the ceremony of election." 



A ballot then took place for officers during the ensuing year, when Dr. Arthur 

 Farre was elected President, N. B.Ward, Esq., Treasurer, John Quekett, Esq., Secre- 

 tary, and Mr. John Williams, Assistant-Secretary ; and the following gentlemen were 

 elected new members of Council, — Dr. Carpenter, Arthur Henfrey, Esq., and S. B. 

 Simonds, Esq. ; Mr. Bowerbank, Dr. Lankester, and Mr. Woodward retiring. — E. N. 



