288 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Dec., 1889. 
various orders of insects were then reviewed at some length, the 
peculiarities of each being described. Of all orders the Hyinenoptera 
gave the most numerous instances of specialised forms. The 
paper was illustrated by a series of drawings.—October 21st. Mr. 
J. W. Lassetter exhibited a series of specimens of A try pa reticularis, 
showing various stages of growth. Mr. H. Hawkes, mounted 
specimens of our rarer plants, including Sibthorpia europcea, 
Neottia eestivalis, Sileve acaulis, Dianthus ccesius, Lobelia urea*, &c., 
and, under the microscope, stellate hairs on corolla of Corea 
preciosa. —October 28th. Mr. Camm exhibited, under the micro¬ 
scope, the following fungi: Hemiarcyria rubijormis, H. Serpula, and 
Crateriun aureum, the two last from Carlisle. Mr. Thompson then 
read a paper, “Notes on the Crayfish.” The writer, in describing the 
life history of this crustacean, said that though they were little 
esteemed by us as an article of food, yet on the Continent they were 
in great request, the demand for them in France exceeding the supply. 
After speaking of their habits in summer and winter and the different 
methods employed in taking them, the writer dealt at some length on 
the normal and abnormal development of their swimmerets, mouth 
organs, antennae, antennules (containing organs of hearing), gills, 
bronchial chamber, heart, stomach and gastroliths within it. The 
paper concluded with an account of their method of reproduction. 
The subject was illustrated by a series of drawings and dissections.-- 
November 4th. Annual Meeting for election of officers, &c. The 
General Secretary, Secretary of Committee, Curator, and Treasurer 
presented their reports, the latter stating that there was a balance of 
£8 17s. 5d. in favour of the Society. On the motion of Mr. White, 
the reports were adopted. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A , B.Sc., the retiring 
President, proposed Professor Hillliouse, M.A., F.L.S., as President 
for the ensuing year. Messrs. C. P. Neville and J. Edmonds seconded 
and supported the nomination, which was carried unanimously. The 
President said it gave him great pleasure to accept the post. Although 
he could not hope to attend all the meetings of the Society, still he 
trusted to be able to take a useful part in it. The Society was per¬ 
forming an unassuming work, which it was a pleasure to read of from 
month to month, and he would do what he could to help forward and 
further its best interests. The following officers were then elected : 
Messrs. Deakin and Corbet, Vice-Presidents ; Mr. -J. Collins, General 
Secretary ; Mr. White, Secretary of Committee ; Mr. Madison, 
Curator. The other officers were re-elected. The election of Com¬ 
mittee and vote of thanks to retiring officers brought the meeting to a 
close.—November 11th. Mr. H. Hawkes exhibited specimens of 
Osmunda regalls , Opliioglossum vulgatum, and Botrgchium Lunaria, our 
only native examples of exannulate ferns. Mr. P. T. Deakin then read 
a paper on “ The Country around Christchurch, Hants.” The writer 
described the situation of the town, and referred to its history and 
antiquities. It was once a seaport, but the harbour has been silted up 
until no large vessels can enter it. The great charm of this district 
to the scientist is its geology, for it gives us in the space of a few miles 
an almost complete section from the lower to the upper Eocene. In 
the Bournemouth beds we find leaf impressions and the remains of 
tree trunks, the latter bored through and through by a marine mollusc. 
Although some organic remains are to be found nearly all along the 
coast line, yet it is only when we come to Barton Cliff that they really 
abound. The writer gave lists of the fossils found commonly, and 
also referred to those less frequently met with, and said great interest 
