WelUngton Fldlosopldcal Societij. 433 



pointed out that it is almost impossible to get at the eggs or larvae to 

 destroy them ; although in the latter state the insects are most mischievous, 

 because their presence is not noticed until the "vyithering of the leaves shows 

 that they have done their work. Numbers o£ 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, Avhich 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 larvae of this insect, which comes and departs with 

 equal suddenness ; but suggests that if the larvae be on the ground, they 

 might be destroyed 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 larvae of destructive foreign insects. 



The Secretary read the following papers : — 



10. •" On a proposed Improvement in the mechanical Separation of 

 Liquids from each other in certain Analyses for Alkaloids," by W . Skey. 



Absteact. 



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 tv\^o 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 v,dth one of its legs. 

 The long tube is tightly connected with a tap, communicating with a reservoir 

 of mercury above. The mercury then being turned on, the whole, or practically 

 55 



