Minutes of Proceedings. 
V 
that the epidermal lens at the apex naturally sends more light towards 
the base than towards the upper parts. There is no other plant known 
that has such leaves, but Dr. Marloth cannot describe the species until 
the specimens he is cultivating have produced flowers. 
Dr. L. Peringuey, the General Secretary, read a description of a new 
Transvaal tick, a variety of Ixodes pilosus, Koch, by Mr. J. G. Neumann, 
Professor at the Veterinary School, Toulouse, France. 
Mr. C. W. Howard, the Entomologist of the Transvaal Agricultural 
Department, sent a note on the distribution and hosts of the new Trans- 
vaal tick Ixodes pilosus Jiotvardi, Neum., the first specimens of which were 
sent to him by Dr. Copland, District Surgeon at Leydsdorp, and about 
the same time Dr. Theiler brought specimens from Durban. Mr. Louns- 
bury, in one of his reports, stated that I. pilosus was only found in the 
Cape Colony in places which were very humid, such as kloofs containing 
a stream of running water or in the vicinity of vleis. Apparently I. pilosus 
hoiuardi was not limited in its distribution to these conditions, since Mr. 
Howard had taken specimens from places which were more or less dry 
unless they could consider Durban as humid, but such places as Leyds- 
dorp and Zoutpansberg, from which some of the specimens were taken 
were very arid. The principal host was the dog, but at the Ivy Mine, 
Moodies, Barberton, a few specimens were found on a cat, and a few on a 
hedgehog at Pienaars River. 
Mr. W. T. Saxton contributed a note on the occurrence of the Genus 
Sphceroplea in South Africa. 
The previously noted localities where the green Alga Sphceroplea occurs 
are the inundated plains of Central Europe, Asia, and America. 
Specimens were collected in South Africa by Mr. Saxton in a fresh- 
water pool on Dassen Island nearly two years ago, and again recently in 
pools on Green Point Common by Mr. E. P. Phillips. The Alga is inte- 
resting as representing a monotypic and rather isolated family, and is the 
only one of its species known. Diagrams were shown illustrating the 
structure and life -history. 
Dr. C. F. JuRiTZ read a communication on Some Investigations 
regarding ' Brak ' (Alkali) in Cape Colony Soils." 
Brak, or alkali, in soil consisted of accumulations of sodium salts. 
Rainy weather carried them to varying depths, but prolonged dry weather 
caused their return to the surface. Irrigation tended to accentuate these 
conditions, hence the adaptability of any tract of country for irrigation 
depended, other things apart, upon the proportion in the soil of salts 
which might render it unproductive. To test a soil as to its liability to 
become brak under irrigation it was essential to take samples at regular 
intervals all the way down from the surface to the greatest depth which 
irrigation water might penetrate. Brak was caused by carbonate, chloride, 
21 
