186 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



By Mr. Alexander Noble. — Saxifraga cernua, Asjndium Lonchitis, 

 CystojHerls montana, and Alchemilla alpina from Ben Ltiwers. 



EXCURSION. 



Craignethan. — Mr. Thomas King stated that at this excursion the 

 following plants were found, viz., Hypericum pidchrum, H. hirsutum, 

 H. qaadrangulum, H. perforatum, Campanula latifolia, Calamintha 

 ClinopocUum, Origanum vulgare, Arum maculatum, and Ophioglossum 

 vulgatum. Few ferns and no mosses were observed. 



PAPER READ. 

 Mr. S. Macdonald read an interesting paper on Grasshoppers, 

 describing their external form, anatomical peculiarities, and 

 destructive habits. They belong to the class Orthoptera, which also 

 includes the Crickets and Locusts, the whole order being very 

 voracious. The female lays about one hundred and fifty eggs, 

 depositing them in chinks, such as the cracks formed in a sun-dried 

 clayey soil. The young may be seen about the beginning of May, 

 hopping about very actively, having as yet no visible wings, the 

 larva differing from the perfect state or imago only in this respect, 

 and in point of size. In about twenty days it goes through the 

 incomplete metamorphosis by which they are released from their 

 sheaths. The anterior pair of wings are leathery, and form cases 

 (elytra) for the posterior flying wings. The legs are formed for 

 leaping, the hind pair being much longer than the others. On the 

 back, front, and sides the insect is effectually covered with a thick 

 shell-skin binding it round in the form of plates, strong and flexible, 

 and well suited for its active life. The mouth is furnished with a 

 set of " incisors," by which it crops its vegetable food. The gizzard, 

 or second cavity of the stomach, is adapted for crushing the food, 

 having horny plates developed in its walls. The digestive fluids are 

 of a green colour. The paper was illustrated with numerous 

 drawings of the stomach, nervous system, and digestive canal. 



22d August, 1876. 



Mr. John Harvie, Vice-President, in the chair. 



It was announced that the local Financial Committee of the British 



