Repouts of Societies. 



27 



of Atilus sincilolium (flexible coral), from Cuba. Mr. S. L. Mosley 

 introduced a discussion on the habits of the mason-wasp, more especially 

 as to its manner of supplying its larvse with food ; he found, on opening 

 a nest, that it was completely filled up with living larvse of Tortrices, a 

 genus of insects extremely lively in the larval state, and it was unaccount- 

 able to him how the parent wasp induced the larvEe first put into the nest 

 to remain whilst it fetched more, previous to closing up the orifice with 

 mud. The president, Mr. Tindall, and Mr. James Yarley considered the 

 wasp must have some means of stupifying the larvas for a time. A paper 

 on The Epidermis, and its Appendages "* was then read by Mr. George 

 Brook (secretary). The position and structure of the epidermis were 

 first explained, the cells, and stomata with the guard cells, &c., being 

 clearly shewn by means of beautifully-cut sections under the microscope. 

 The hairs and prickles of plants were also treated of, the microscopic 

 specimens of which elicited great admiration amongst the members. 

 This brought a most interesting meeting to a close. 



Meeting August 5th, the president, Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., in the 

 chair. — Mr. Joseph French exhibited the parasite Gnscuta epithymum on 

 furze, a beaujiiful specimen gathered by himself at Tunbridge Wells. Mr. 

 Joseph Copley shewed an immense fungus {Polyporus giganteus ?) from 

 willow, which elicited an interesting discussion. Mr. Joseph French then 

 read a paper on Economic Botany," after which the meeting was closed. 



George Buook, ter., Hon. Sec. 



The Leeds N'aturalists' Club and Scientific Association. — 217th 

 Meeting, July 18th, Mr. Samuel Jefferson, F.C.S., president, in the 

 chair. Larvae of Notodonta trepida and Nyssia zonaria were exhibited on 

 behalf of Mr. John T. Calvert, of Keighley. Mr. Henry Pocklington, 

 F.R-.M.S., delivered a lecture upon " Colour," which was followed by a 

 discussion. 



218th Meeting, July 25th, the president in the chair. — A letter from 

 Mr. Henry Hewetson, of Scarbro', was read, upon the occurrence of 

 Maianthemum hifolium at Hackness. Mr. James E. Bedford exhibited 

 numerous fine samples of plumbago from Canada. Mr. Charles Smethurst 

 showed Sesia philanthiformis, Dianthcecia coesia, D. capsopliila, and Folia 

 nigrocincta, from the Isle of Man. Mr. W. Turner exhibited a very 

 good pattern of microscope, by Field and Co. Mr. S. Schofield showed 

 a number of minerals, which were named by Mr. C. H. Bothamley. Mr. 

 E. E. Prince showed lepidoptera from Adel, and Mr. John Grassham 

 Vallisneria spiralis. Mr. Henry Pocklington, F,P,M.S., exhibited some 

 optical apparatus, and performed some experiments illustrative of his 

 lecture given at the previous meeting. 



* We may print an extract of this Paper shortly. — Eds. Nat. 



