1XX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A collection of insects, centipedes, etc., was sent from the School of Nature 

 Study and Gardening, Clapham, Sussex, the specimens having been found and 

 studied in relation to the gardening course undertaken there. The students' 

 Insect note books were also shown. Specimens of the Burying Beetle {Necro- 

 phorus mortuorum), the Devil's Coach Horse (Ocypus olens), the Lacewing Fly 

 (Chrysopa vulgaris) , Ichneumons, and several larvae of Ground Beetles (Carabidae) 

 were amongst those of use from the horticultural point of view, while the Leather 

 Jacket (the larva of Tipula), wire-worms (the larvae of the Click-beetle), the 

 larva of the Common Cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris), the Mottled Umber 

 Moth (Hybernia defoliaria), the Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae) and the Ermine 

 Moth represented those insects whose activities are distinctly harmful. There 

 was also a complete life history of the Gooseberry Saw-fly. 



Subterraria for observing the transformations of insects underground were 

 exhibited by Mr. Hugh Main, F.E.S. The largest of these contained two fuil- 

 fed larvae of the Dor or Watchman Beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius) in their cells 

 awaiting pupation. Two similar cages showed larvae of the Devil's Coach Horse 

 ( Ocypus olens) and- Burying Beetles (Necrophorus ruspator) . 



Lantern slides, made from the exhibitor's photographs, were also shown 

 illustrating the life history of Dyticus marginalis, the Cabbage White Butterfly 

 (Pieris brassicae) and its parasites, of aphid feeders, such as the Ladybird 

 (Coccinella), Lacewing Fly (Chrysopa), and Hover Fly (Syrphas). 



Aquaria for observing the habits and transformations of aquatic insects 

 were shown by Mr. Withycombe. They contained a variety of insects, water 

 beetles (Acilius and Dyticus), Pond Skaters (Gerris), Water Boatmen (Notonecta 

 and Corixa) ; the interest of the aquaria being enhanced by beautiful specimens 

 of aquatic plants of which frog-bit (Hydrocharis Morsus-ranae), horn wort 

 (Ceratophyllum demersum), bladderwort (Utricularia neglecta) and Nitella (in 

 fruit) may be mentioned. 



Some eighty bird-skins, exhibited by Miss Hibbert-Ware, F.L.S., together 

 with, in many cases, the actual contents of the crop or gizzard at the time of 

 death, gave first-hand evidence as to the nature of the food of such birds as are 

 of doubtful, or of bad, repute in the opinion of the gardener and gamekeeper. 

 Nine dor beetles, for instance, were seen to have constituted the last meal of the 

 Little Owl, whilst the Barn Owl had devoured " vermin " in the form of mice 

 and beetles. It was shown that the Woodpecker, Peewit, Kestrel, and Titmice 

 are among the best friends of the agriculturist, and that the thrushes do far more 

 good than harm. 



Starlings and Rooks become harmful only when allowed to become too 

 numerous. The only really bad records are those of the Jay, Wood Pigeon, 

 and Bullfinch. It was carefully explained that no bird had been killed for the 

 purpose of the collection, also that the exhibitor gave practical evidence only, 

 and in no case decided whether a bird was beneficial or injurious without the 

 actual examination of its food contents. 



There were exhibits bearing directly upon gardening, viz. : — 



A series of experiments with soil, set up by Mr. Craig (South Hackney Centra 1 

 School), showing how the fundamental principles governing gardening practice 

 can be simply demonstrated, the experiments involving the use of only the 

 simplest apparatus, and suited to the capacity of quite elementary pupils. 



St. Hubert's School for Mentally Defective Elder Boys, in which gardening 

 together with other practical subjects plays an important part, exhibited apparatus 

 in cardboard, wood, metal, and leather, all made in direct response to the need 

 of the garden and the workers. — Exhibitor, Mr. Snook, F.R.H.S. 



Material illustrating the field work done in Geology, Botany, and Nature 

 Study on School Journeys was exhibited by Mr. G. G. Lewis of Ellerslie Road 

 School. Specimen pages from the guide books prepared for such journeys, 

 photographs showing school children at work in the country and on the sea- 

 shore, and samples of their work were displayed. 



Nature Study Leaflets and " School Nature Study," the Journal published 

 by the Union, were on view. 



GENERAL MEETING. 



May 27, 1919. 



Rev. Joseph Jacob in the Chair. 



Fellows elected (217). — G. S. Albright, Miss C. M. Alexander, Mrs. R. G. 

 Alford, Mrs. R. Allen, Mrs. S. Austin, Lord Avebury, Capt. R. Backhouse, 



