XIV. 



Proceedings. [December 1st, 1896. 



could be got representing results based on a much larger 

 number of candidates, so as to obtain a comparison of the 

 normal distributions in the different subjects of school- 

 leaving examinations. 



Mr. Peter Cameron's paper entitled " Hymenoptera 

 Orientalia, or Contributions to a knowledge of the 

 Hymenoptera of the Oriental Zoological Region," Part 

 V., was communicated by Mr. J. Cosmo Melvill. 



The paper is printed in full in the Memoirs. 



General Meeting, December ist, 1896. 



Edward Schunck, Ph.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. George Wilson, M.Sc, Demonstrator in the Whit- 

 worth Engineering Laboratory, Owens College, was elected 

 an ordinary member. 



Ordinary Meeting, December ist, 1896. 



Edward Schunck, Ph.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The thanks of the members were voted to the donors of 

 the books upon the table. 



Dr. Schunck said that as he had paid some attention to 

 the chemical properties of carminic acid, the colouring 

 matter of cochineal, it had appeared to him that it might 

 be of interest to ascertain whether the colouring matter is 

 secreted by the insect or whether it is merely absorbed and 

 collected from the juices of the plant on which it feeds. 

 Having, through the kindness of a friend in the Canary 

 Islands, obtained some specimens of Cactus opuntia, which 

 were quite fresh-looking, he had stripped off the thick 

 fleshy epidermis and treated the interior surface, as well 



