2io THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



A most expressive title is " sit-siccar," from the difficulty of putting it 

 up by the roots, or otherwise eradicating it. 



In Gaelic and Irish, it has a name signifying " the yellow plant 

 that overcomes," or "the yellow-stalked plant." In Welsh, it is 

 known as "the hare's plant " and "the serpent's weed." Amongst 

 Celtic races it seems to be associated with the fairies. In Ireland, it 

 is known as "fairies horses," because the good little people were 

 believed to ride on the stems of ragweed, just as the witches were 

 supposed to bestride a broomstick, or a thorn branch on their serial 

 excursions. The botanic name Senecio from the Latin Scnex an old 

 man, is an allusion to the silvery hairs of the pappus, like the hoary 

 head of an aged patriarch. The specific name Jacobcea is the Latin 

 Jacobus— James, hence it is St. James' wort, but why the good saint 

 should have such a worthless plant associated with his name baffles 

 my comprehension, except that it comes into flower about the day 

 (July 25th) consecrated to the memory of that Apostle and Martyr. 



Reports of Societies. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



September 4th, 1889. — Capt. H. J. Ei.wes, F.L.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 



Prof. C. H. Fernald, of Amherst, Mass, U.S.A., and Mr. C. J. Fryer, of Emscote 

 Road, Warwick, were elected Fellows; and Prof. C. V. Riley, of Washington, 

 U.S.A., and Dr. A. S. Packard, of Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A., were admitted 

 into the Society. 



Mr. George T. Baker exhibited two remarkably dark specimens of A crony cf a 

 ligustri taken near Llangollen. 



Mr. P. B. Mason exhibited and remarked on a collection of Lepidoptera which 

 he had recently made in Iceland. The following species, amongst others, were 

 represented, viz. : — Crymodes exults, Triphcena pronuba, Noctua conflua, Plusia gamma, 

 Larentia ccesiata, Melanippe sociata, Coremia munitata, Phyeis fusca, and Crambus pascuellus. 



The Rev. Dr. Walker also exhibited a number of Lepidoptera, Diptera, and 

 Hymenoptera, recently collected by himself in Iceland. The collection included the 

 following, viz. : — Crymodes exulis, Noctua conflua, Larentia ccesiata, Coremia munitata, 

 Culex pipiens, Scatophaga stercoraria, Caliiphora erythrocephala, Helophilus grcenlandica, 

 Bombus terrestris, &c. 



Mr. W. White exhibited, on behalf of Mr. G. C. Griffiths, a specimen of Nephroma 

 hippia, Fab., var. gcea, Feld., which he believed to be hermaphrodite. He also 

 exhibited, for comparison, a female of the same species. A discussion on herma- 

 phroditism ensued, in which Mr. Distant, Capt. Elwes, Mr. M'Lachlan, and Mr. 

 Baker, took part. 



