14 
gall reminded him of the historical mistake with 
reference to the Dead Sea applet, which he believed 
Moore described as being tempting to the eye but 
disappointing to the lips. It had been shown that 
these “ apples ” were not a fruit at all, but simply 
a kind of gall. He did not think the occasional 
visitations of insects had been satisfactorily 
accounted for. Some years ago they had a visita¬ 
tion of lady birds, and he saw some scores, if nut 
hundreds of them, in Regent-street. There was 
also a visitation of cockchafers in Ireland. Ho w 
were these to be accounted for?—Mr. Whipple 
asked whether the opening of the channel tunnel 
might not lead to an invasion of a character 
different from that feared by some military men— 
an invasion by some of the insects which were the 
pests of the continent. Undoubtedly the inter¬ 
change of the rolling stock of English and con¬ 
tinental railway companies might provide vehicles 
for bringing over the insects. We had a visitation 
of daddy long legs a year or two ago, but wasps 
came with them and preyed upon them. In the 
United States he believed there were Government 
entomologists, and he would suggest to Sir Joseph 
Hooker whether it might not be advisable to 
recommend our Government to form a department 
for work of this kind. Seeing the great amount of 
loss which arose from injurious insects, he thought 
the money that would be required would be well 
spent. After pointing out the use of insects in the 
fertilisation of plants, Mr. Whipple went on to 
thank Miss Ormerod for her useful services in con¬ 
nection with the Meteorological Society.—The Rev. 
Astley Cooper said it was sometimes thought that 
there was an antagonism between theology and 
science, and therefore, as he was there as a humble 
representative of theology, he desired to thank 
Miss Ormerod for the help she had given to that 
cause. No large-minded theologian feared science, 
but he would be satisfied that science would only 
confirm theology.—The Chairman said he thought 
it would be a great pity if they separated without 
doing something with reference to the proposed 
field club. He would therefore suggest that those 
who were favourable to the proposal should address 
themselves to Mr. Bevan at the close of the meet¬ 
ing. He congraulated the Athenaeum upon the 
pleasure, and he might say the honour, they had 
received from the addresses of two so distinguished 
visitors as Sir Joseph Hooker and Miss Becker 
(applause). He did not know whether he was 
presuming, but if Sir Joseph Hooker would honour 
