SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, NOVEMBEK 12. 



ccxv 



the tip of the cotyledon, which was absorbing the reserve food materials 

 of the endosperm. 



Bhus Cotinus. — Rev. G. Engleheart, V.M.H., showed a mass of the 

 abortive hairy flower-stalks of the " Wig-tree," Bhus Cotinus. He had 

 found it to be extremely useful for covering Narcissus seedlings. It keeps 

 down mossy growths ; it breaks frost, and keeps insects off ; if it rain, 

 worms are driven out by it. As some other species of Bhus secrete 

 poisons, it was suggested that there might be something of that nature 

 present. The tree had borne such large quantities this year, that he was 

 able to cover 600 boxes, 8 by 8 inches in size, with a layer half an inch 

 thick, which was sufficient to keep out the frost, whereas moss 1 inch 

 in thickness does not do so. 



Pelargonium, proliferous. — Mr. Odell showed specimens of a crimson- 

 flowered scarlet Pelargonium, in which secondary floral axes proceeded 

 from the umbels associated with foliage. The peculiarity is not un- 

 common, but it had become a fixed habit in the plant in question. 



Cypripedium scale. — Dr. Masters exhibited a specimen of stellately 

 formed Coccus scales. Mr. Saunders undertook to examine them. 



Pear-rind ivith grit. — Mr. Holmes exhibited some pieces of the rind 

 of a Pear, with remarkably large callosities of "grit" just below the 

 surface. No cause could be assigned to its formation. 



Birch bark. — Mr. Holmes also exhibited a specimen of the thin bark 

 of Betiila Bhojpattra from India, where it is used as a writing material, 

 the numerous papery layers being easily separated. 



Vine-leaves, diseased. — Mr. E. Portsmouth, of Herrington Hall, 

 Sunderland, sent leaves and fruits. He observes : " The disease is not 

 confined to the Vines, but is growing on the timber in the house ; only 

 in the latter case it does not appear to thrive so well." Dr. Cooke under- 

 took to examine and report upon it. 



Trehalose. — Dr. Cooke showed specimens of cocoons occurring on a 

 species of Echinops. They are made by a beetle, Larinus maculatus, 

 Fald. The cocoons contain a peculiar sugar called " trehalose," a bitter 

 principle, gum and starch identical with, that found in the stem of 

 Echinops, and earthy alkaline salts. It is found near Kirrinel, in Persia 

 (see Hanbury, Science Papers, pp. 159-164). 



Tahasheer. — Dr. Cooke exhibited specimens usually known as " taba 

 sheer," a secretion of silica and lime occurring in the nodes of Bamboos. 

 It was received from Calcutta. 



Scientific Committee, November 12, 1901. 

 Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and nine members present. 



Stellate Coccid. — With reference to the specimens brought by Mr. 

 Chapman to the last meeting, Mr. Robt. Newstead reports as follows : 

 The scale insect on Cypripedium is the Vinsonia stclUfera, Westwood. 

 The females of this beautiful species have long been known, and have 

 occurred in both hemispheres, but have been found most abundantly in the 

 West Indies. Curiously, all the specimens sent proved male puparia, 



