38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



colourless apices, and small unilocular spores. Also, from the 

 same locality, a specimen of Verrucaria theleodes, another rare 

 lichen, hitherto found in this country only on Ben Lawers ; the 

 only other known locality being the Dovrefield Mountains in 

 Norway. 



Mr. Cameron exhibited the living larvse oi Croesus septentrionalis, 

 pointing out the glands on the under side of the abdomen, and the 

 peculiar habit it has of protruding and retracting the glands, and 

 of throwing the body about, so as to deter the ichneumons from 

 attacking it. Also the larvae of Hemichroa luridiventris, found at 

 St. G-erman's Loch on alders. At the same time the imagines 

 and larvse of Nematus virescens, found common at Possil Marsh, 

 and widely distributed throughout Scotland. He gave some details 

 of their life-history, and mentioned that sometimes they are so 

 abundant on a bush that they will strip it of its leaves. 



By Mr. Binnie. — A number of shells, among which were 

 Helix fusca, mentioned in former lists as rare in the district. 

 Helix Jdspida, and Zonites nitidulus ; all found at Kenmuir. 



By Mr. Horn. — Lathyrus hirsutus, Erysimum cheiranthoides, 

 and Linaria elatine, all found at Troon, and supposed to be intro- 

 duced by ballast ; Tulipa sylvesfris, from Bothwell "Woods ; and a 

 newjuncus (Juncus pygmaeus), sent him from the south of England. 



7th October, 1873. 



Mr. P. Cameron in the chair. 



Messrs. Alexander Hill, Robert Brown, and "Walter Smith 

 Middleton, were elected ordinary members. 



Mr. D. Gregorson exhibited the leaves of the Prickly Comfrey 

 (Symphytum asperrimum), and stated that a gentleman in the 

 neighboui-hood of the city was making an experiment in cultivating 

 it as a forage plant. It is easily cultivated, yields a large crop, 

 affords three cuttings during one season, and remains some years 

 in the soil. 



PAPER READ. 



Mr. "W. D. Benson gave an account of a long series of interesting 

 experiments he had made during the summer months with infusions 

 of different vegetable substances, in order to make observations on 

 the development of Infusoria. The infusions were kept in test- 

 tubes, some hermetically sealed, others open ; some kept in the 



