886 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



form is so considerable that naturalists have regarded the animals 

 when in different stages as distinct species. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— Nov. 3. 



Destruction of Injurious Insects by Hard-billed Birds. — In 

 the course of a debate on the destruction of insects injurious to 

 cultivated vegetables, Mr. Mitford stated that, from repeated and 

 careful observation, he bad assured himself that the gooseberry and 

 currant caterpillar, the larva of the Nematus ventricosios, so well known 

 for its devastating action on the leaves, and consequently on the 

 fruit of the gooseberry, etc., is devoured in great number by sparrows 

 and chaffinches, especially during the period of their feeding their 

 young, and also that this particular caterpillar does not appear to be 

 preyed upon by the soft-billed birds, such as the warblers, etc. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.— Nov. 5. 



On a Deposit containing Diatomace^e, Leaves, etc., in the Iron- 

 ore Mines near Ulverston. By Miss E. Hodgson. — The object of 

 this paper was to show that this deposit was deposited in a large 

 cavern or chain of caverns by a subterranean stream, originating 

 probably in a brook called the " Poaka Beck." The authoress first 

 described in detail some of the various caverns and swallow-holes 

 which abound in the limestone of the district, and then alluded to 

 the current belief of their communication with each other, and 

 with springs. Miss Hodgson also remarked that, prior to the year 

 1842, the Poaka Beck, after having become partially engulphed at 

 Inman Gill, is said to have taken a subterranean course ; since the 

 above-named date, its course has been diverted. The paper concluded 

 with a list of the Diatomacece found in the deposit, with notes on 

 the places where they occur in the streams of the district, and with 

 some remarks on the vegetable remains. 



On the Association op Granite with the Tertiary Strata 

 near Kingston. By J. G. Sawkins, Esq., E.G.S. — The occasion of 

 this letter was the discovery by the author of a granitic formation 

 traversing Jamaica in a direction from S.E. to N.W., being the same 

 as that of the earthquake shocks. It pierces the carbonaceous 

 series, and also the Tertiary strata, whence the author concludes 

 that it is of Tertiary age. It usually contains copper-ores, and is 

 often more or less decomposed. 



ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY— Nov. 10. 



Explorations in Australia. — Mr. Landsborough's and Captain 

 Norman's expeditions from Moreton Bay to the Gulf of Carpentaria^ 

 and thence southwards across the continent to the River Darling, 

 had resulted in the discovery of large tracts of country available 



