MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 475 
Lubbock had shewn that most papilionaceous flowers required bees 
to fertilise them. Moths might visit red clover, but they would not 
fertilise it, as they do not settle, but suck the nectar on the wing. 
Mr. Farr gave an account of Sir J. Hall’s attempt to introduce 
the humble bee. Each nest was packed in a box 18 inches by 12, 
with a zinc tray an inch in depth at each end; this tray was filled 
wi h sponge soaked in honey, and covered with perforated zinc. 
The bees ate freely, and lived for 84 days, and were ultimately 
killed by an oversight. 
The President pointed out that red clover might well be self- 
sterile in England and self-fertile here; other similar instances 
were known. He drew the attention of members to Mr. Darwin’s 
remark that farmers often get seed from other localities, but his 
experiments shewed that it would be better for farmers to import 
only half their seed and mix it with their own, so as to insure cross- 
fertilisation, © — | 
ir. Armstrong, in reply, said that one reason why red clover 
was comparatively rare in this couutry was that ten times more 
white clover seed was imported than red clover seed, and that 
white clover flowered all through the year. He thought that the 
red clover would be permanent in New Zealand without the help 
of the humble bee, but that it would deteriorate. The humble bee 
would no doubt be useful, especially for the fertilisation of the 
cowgrass variety. On the other hand humble bees were a great 
nuisance to all engaged in rearing true-bred flowers and vegetables 
for seed. The flora of New Zealand was remarkable for pale- 
coloured flowers, and he thought that there was in the clover a 
tendency to follow this apparent rule. 
2. Notes on a native epecies of Mantis, by T. H. Potts. This 
paper gives observations made during the last three years on the 
habits of a species of Mantis found in several places in the South 
Island of New Zealand. The young are hatched in September 
and November ; they feed only on living insects such as flies, small 
moths, and spiders, and are very voracious. They throw them- 
selves on their backs to cast off the old skin. The mature insect 
seldom uses its wings. The female is ready for breeding in about 
ten days after the last moult. Coition takes place often, and lasts 
for several hours, and about ten days after the eggs are laid, in 
January or February. After forming an egg mass the female rests 
for a time, and then commences feeding again. She lays five or 
six of the egg masses at intervals of about nine days. 
3. Notes on some New Zealand land shells, with descriptions 
of new species, by Professor F. W. Hutton. This paper contains 
descriptions of the animals of twenty species of land mollusca, and 
the dentition of fifty-one species. The following are described as 
new :— 
Patula jessica, Dark reddish brown, marked with horny ; spire 
flat: ribs sinuated, close, about 35 in the tenth of an inch; um- 
bilicus wide; diameter 0.17inch. Habitat, Bealey (Haast). 
Patula bianca. Horny brown, banded with darker; spire flat; 
ribs delicate, about 55 in the tenth of an inch; umbilicus broad, 
graduated ; diameter 0.1 inch. Habitat, Greymouth (Helms). 
Patula tumandva. Brown, obscurely banded with paler; ribs 
sinuated on the upper surface, distant, about 13 in the tenth of an 
inch ; diameter, 0.12 inch. Habitat, Auckland (Gillies). 
