SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 22. 
clxxxiii 
been transformed into similar funnels or cups, as described by 
the late Rev. Prof. J. S. Henslow. 
Structure of the Seeds of the Indigo Plant. —Professor Church 
alluded to a curious discovery he had made in investigating the 
seeds of some wild species of Indigofera, as I. linifolia, I. cordi- 
folia, and others. He found that sections of the embryos 
showed a marbled surface, having brownish patches, due to the 
colouring matter erythrophyll. On boiling crushed seeds to 
test for starch, not any was found, 33 per cent, being albuminoid 
matter ; hence these are the most nitrogenous of all leguminous 
seeds known. On the solution being left, the true indigo-blue 
separates and becomes insoluble. Thus, there are two quite 
independent colouring matters in the same seed. The solution 
being red, the blue formed a ring round the porcelain vessel 
containing it. 
Scientific Committee, November 22. 
Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair. 
Present: Mr. Bennett-Poe, Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. Michael, and 
Rev. Prof. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Tea-plants overrun by Mites. —Mr. Michael gave an interest¬ 
ing account of a new species of Acarus, sent by Mr. E. E. 
Green, Hon. Gov. Entomologist, of Eton, Pundaluoya, Ceylon. 
They were forwarded in tubes filled with sterilised air, a plan 
which Mr. Green had found very useful for preserving fleshy 
insects in their natural form and colours. He also forwarded 
specimens of young Tea-leaves attacked by the mite, which 
causes considerable damage and loss of crop on the Tea estates 
in Ceylon. Mr. Green writes as follows :—“ Some years ago I 
gave a description and figures of this mite in a little pamphlet 
on “ Insect Pests of the Tea Plant.” For purpose of registra¬ 
tion I gave it the provisional name of Acarus translucens , but I 
find that this name is already occupied by a different mite, 
described by Nietner in his “Enemies of the Coffee-tree”; 
therefore the insect is still nameless. I should be glad to have 
it properly identified. It is curious in laying two different 
kinds of eggs, one form being quite smooth, and another form 
rather larger and beautifully beaded. The latter is the more 
