234 Linncaan Society. 
under side of several feathers of birds ; likewise a very minute paper 
nest of Vespa Britunnica. 
Mr. Westwood exhibited drawings and specimens illustrating the 
transformations of the common flea. 
Mr. E. Doubleday read extracts from a letter addressed to him by 
M. Guenee, stating that he had become associated with M. Boisduval 
in the ‘ Histoire naturelle des Insectes Lepidopteres,’ and that the 
nocturnal Lepidoptera would be described by him. 
Descriptions of two new species of Papilio were read by J. O. 
Westwood. 
Mr. Thwaites gave an account of the observations which he had 
recently made on the habits of Tinea granella, in granaries at Bristol. 
The moth appears in August, at which time it is advisable to attempt 
its destruction by fumes of sulphur. The insects remain in the larva 
state through the winter, being full-fed in October, when they seek 
out winter-quarters in the woodwork of the granaries, such as the 
beams, floors and supports, committing much damage by boring 
into them to the depth of half an inch, or sometimes an inch. If 
the wood be hard they do not excavate so deeply, but cover the sur- 
face with a thick layer of excrement ; and it had been observed that 
they do not fear attacking kyanized wood ; it was consequently sug- 
gested that it M'ould be serviceable to coat the wood with plates of 
lead or other metal. Mr. Spence noticed how singularly this insect 
seemed to set at nought the supposed objections to insect life, attack- 
ing the knots of the wood, which were of course most strongly satu- 
rated with turpentine. On examining the debris left by these insects 
with a microscope, it was found to consist only of minute particles 
of gnawed wood, which did not appear to have undergone the action 
of the stomach ; and it had been observed, that when there was a 
sufficient mass of debris for their defence they do not bore into the 
wood. Mr. Spence also alluded to the change of instinct which 
these circumstances evidently pro-s'ed the insects to have undergone 
from their natural state. 
LINNJ5AN SOCIETY. 
April 20, 1847. — E. Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 
Read a paper “ On a new genus of Plants of the family Bunnan- 
niacea.” By John Miers, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. &c. 
Opuiomeris. 
PeriantJiium superum, tubulosum, gibbosum, caclucum ; fauce latcrali 
anniilo semiclausa; limbo 6-partito, laciniis 3 extevioribus brcvibus 
ovatis, 3 interioribus longissimis subulatis. Stamina 6, libera, infra 
perianthii faucem inserta et ejus laciniis opposita, inchisn, versus tubuni 
rctroflexa ; filamentis petaloideis, margine appendiculatis ; antheris ad- 
natis in sinu filamentorum tenninalibus, 2-locularibus, loculis longitu- 
dinaliter dehiscentibus. Ovarium inferuin, 1-loculare ; placentis 3 pa- 
rietalibus, medio ovnligcris ; ovulis indefinitis, anatropis. Stylus brevis. 
Stigmata o. Fructus turbinatus, truncatns, apice operculatim dehiscens, 
1-lociilaris. Semina plurima, scobiformia. Embryo ignotus. — Planta:; 
Brasilienses, hyalinoe, super lignum cariosum parasitkce ; rhizomate 
