SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. MAY 5. 



xxxvii 



Scientific Committee, May 5, 1903. 

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



Aconite and Caterpillars. — Mr. Holmes reported : — " The moth that 

 attacks the Aconite flowers when in bud is Plusia Monet a, one of the 

 Noctuce. The grub appears about the middle of April, and its presence is 

 recognised by the young leaves above the bud being fastened together, 

 and later on by the black tips of the young leaves, where they have been 

 eaten. A few years ago it first appeared in this country, feeding both on 

 the Aconite and Delphinium, when high prices (from os. upwards) were 

 paid for British specimens. Now it is so common around London that I 

 found nearly a dozen in the Chelsea Physic Garden ; and an acquaintance 

 collected during a cycle ride in the neighbourhood of London last week as 

 many as 500 larvae, so that it is spreading rapidly. The furthest point 

 north that I have seen it is Robin Hood's Bay, in Yorkshire. The single 

 specimen seen there was attacked by ichneumons, which I gave, when 

 hatched out, to the Zoological Department of the Natural History Museum, 

 South Kensington. The eggs are laid on the fruit of the Aconite singly, 

 here and there, and the young caterpillar apparently eats its egg-shell, as so 

 many caterpillars do ; but I was not able to trace them, and do not know 

 what they feed on in the autumn, when the Aconite is withered, since the 

 moths come out in June, and I have never found an autumn brood." 



Fuchsia malformed. — Mr. Holmes sent a photograph of a blossom 

 having two stamens, with filaments outside the base of the flower, observ- 

 ing : " It is difficult to understand the position of the stamens unless the 

 leaves, which are alternate, are considered as the sepals of the flower the 

 carpels of which may be developed into a second flower by a prolonga- 

 tion of the axis." 



Tulostoma mammosiun. — Mr. Holmes showed specimens of this little 

 " stalked puffball," and observed : — " The stalk is usually hidden by the 

 moss and herbage amongst which it grows. I found it at Braunton 

 Burrows, North Devon, during Easter. It was growing scattered over a 

 space of several yards on a rabbit-warren, and the rabbits' dung, being 

 bleached, presented almost exactly the same appearance. Indeed, I 

 should have passed the fungus by except that each seemed to have a dark 

 spot in the centre (where the spores escape). One can hardly see the use 

 to such a rare plant of protective mimicry ; but the likeness was most 

 remarkable in size, colour, and shape." 



Acer van Volxemi frost bitten. — Dr. Masters showed sprays of this tree 

 from the Caucasus severely cut by frost. The leaves were dead, but the 

 shoot was uninjured. It was the first time that this species has been 

 known to be frostbitten. The specimen was shown to illustrate the way 

 in which the general appearance or habit of the shoots may be* affected by 

 frost. The shoots, though still alive, will be bare of leaves at the base all 

 through the year. Japanese Maples were severely injured a few weeks 

 ago near Bury St. Edmunds. 



