SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, AUGUST 29. 



cxix 



Narcissu's fly in Hahranth us. — Mr. Chittenden also sent some bulbs 

 of Habranthus pratensis received from Norwich, attacked by the grubs 

 of the Narcissus fly, Merodon equestris. This insect appears to be 

 extending its feeding habits to several other bulbs besides the Narcissus. 



Oak galls. — Mr. Hales showed specimens of the common Oak 

 attacked by the Artichoke gall (Aphilotrix fecundatrix), the Oyster gall 

 (Neuroteriis ostreus), and the Spangle gall (Neuroterus numisniatis). 

 Mr. Odell also showed shoots of Quercus coccinea, Q. Gerris, and 

 Q. Rohur, collected from trees growing near together, but whilst the 

 two former species were healthy and green, the common Oak was badly 

 galled with Neuroterus ostreus (Oyster gall), and the leaves were stained 

 and browned. . 



Mhits. — Mr. Fraser, F.L.S., called attention to the many Mints 

 in general use for culinary purposes, and submitted several specimens 

 of different forms. Meniha spicata is the Mint for sauce as generally 

 sold in the markets, whilst M. longi folia is the one generally found in 

 private gardens. He had tested the various forms, and concluded that 

 M. spicata was the best flavoured. Mr. Odell said that lie considered 

 M. candicans the hest. 



Solanum nigrum. — Messrs. J. Yeitch showed a well-grown and 

 fruited specimen of the Canadian Huckleberry. 



British Orchid hybrid. — Mr. Botting Hemsley showed a figure of a 

 British Orchid found on Eeigate Hill in the third week of April last. 

 It had three spurs, no pollen, and many other abnormialities. It was 

 somewhat like Hahenaria viridis, but the labellum rather more 

 resembled that of an Orchis. It was apparently a hybrid, and too 

 abnormal to connect with any British species, whilst its early flowering 

 appeared unaccountable. 



Adioda x 'St. Fuscien ' (Ada aurantiaca x Cochlioda Noezliana). 

 Mr. O'Brien called attention to this' singular hybrid raised and shown 

 by Monsieur Henri Graire, Amiens. He stated that although it would 

 be known as a bi-generic hybrid the affinity of both parents was nearer 

 than it appeared to be on casual examination. Cochlioda was founded 

 by Lindley on Matthews' type Cochlioda densiflora in 1838, but not 

 pubhshed until 1853. Meantime the same author (1844) had named 

 the plant now known as Cochlioda rosea, Adontoglossum roseum. Later 

 Reichenbach included both Ada aurantiaca and Cochlioda rosea under 

 Mesospinidium, a genus known- to be distinct from Cochlioda, and of 

 which but few examples' are at present in gardens. The plant shown 

 had a striking resemblance to Cochlioda rosea, the six-inch-long inflor- 

 escence bearing eight or nine flowers, each under an inch across. 

 Sepals and petals linear lanceolate, bright red, the petals the broader. 

 Lip three-lobed, reflexed at the tip yellowish tinged with dull red. 

 The plant showed but little evidence of Ada aurantiaca. 



VOL. XXXVII. 



