172 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
arose as to the need of such an arrangement merely to secure self¬ 
fertilisation, which must almost certainly take place automatically, 
seeing that the anthers are just above the stigmas. Yet the reflexed 
hairs on the abortive flowers above the anthers seem to prevent the 
insects from escaping to carry the pollen to other flowers. It was 
suggested that the members should investigate the process individu¬ 
ally, and report their observations. By Miss Noble, a flowering 
specimen of Geuvi rivale, from Burbage Wood. By the Chairman— 
fertile fronds of Onoclea (Stratiliopteris) germanica, full of ripe spores, 
from Belvoir Castle, portions of which were distributed for culti¬ 
vation, as this fine hardy fern is said to do well in gardens ; also, 
fragments of a nodule of iron pyrites, brought to him as part 
of a meteorite, which was certainly a mistake. A discussion 
took place as to the depth to which meteorites would penetrate 
if they ever really struck the earth. Dr. Tomkins, as a member 
of the Volunteer Artillery, pointed out that the kinetic energy 
of such objects must be greater than that of cannon shot, 
and that they must bury themselves to a depth which would 
render a small meteorite practically irrecoverable. The Chairman 
suggested that the resistance of the atmosphere, especially the 
denser portion near the surface, would counteract and extinguish a 
large part of the initial velocity, and that though the accelerated 
velocity of a body falling from a height of say forty miles could be 
theoretically calculated, the formula was only correct in vacuo. No 
experiment from such a height had ever been made, and the atmos¬ 
pheric resistance in such a case would become a very important factor. 
Subjects for discussion :—1. Carnivorous plants. Mr. J. T. Thorpe 
exhibited a beautiful living specimen of Pinguicula vulgaris, in flower, 
in a pot, which he had had in his possession for several years. The 
leaves were observed to be covered with glandular papillie, and about 
their incurved edges were seen the remains of several captured flies. 
Mr. Thorpe stated that from his own observations he found that the 
edges were rolled over in about twenty-four hours after the capture of 
an insect, and that they unrolled themselves and became flattened out 
again in from thirty to forty hours more. Inquiry was made as to how 
many British plants were known to be carnivorous. The list, as at 
present known, is a small one—viz., Pinguicula vulgaris, Drosera (three 
species), Utricularia vulgaris , and probably minor and intermedia; 
perhaps also two or three species of Saxifraga should be included, and 
further investigations may add other genera. Many plants exude 
viscid secretions, by which insects are caught and killed without being 
utilised as food by those plants. 2. Natural history diaries and note 
books. Bev. T. A. Preston described “ The Practical Naturalist’s Diary,” 
published by Swan Sonnenschein and Co., price 2s. 6d. Several other 
forms of diaries and note books were also exhibited, and their merits 
discussed. 
PETERBOROUGH NATURAL HISTORY, SCIENTIFIC, 
AND ARCH2EOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—April 26tli. Excursion 
to Helpstone Heath.—April 27th. The Marchioness Dowager of 
Huntly threw open the grounds at Orton Hall to the members 
of the society. The rock and alpine plants, which were flowering 
in great beauty, attracted considerable attention.—April 29th. 
Geological Section.— President, Mr. E. Wheeler. Visit made to 
the Spital Cutting (Cornbrash section), but owing to the lateness 
of the hour no rare fossils were obtained, and arrangements 
were made to work the same section on May 13tli. 
