The Zoologist/3rd series, vol 1 (1877)/Issue 8/Proceedings of Scientific Societies
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
Linnean Society of London.
June 1, 1877.—Prof. Allmann, F.R.S., President, in the chair.
The first zoological paper read was by Mr. Robert M'Lachlan, viz., "On the Nymph Stage of the Embidæ, with Notes on the Habits of the Family. &c." The author stated that in 1837 Prof. Westwood (in Trans. Linn. Soc.) instituted the characters of Embia, a genus of insects allied to the white ant. Lately, therefore forty years after, Mr. Michael discovered some orchids partially destroyed by an insect found to belong to the Embidæ; and the nymph stage obtained fills a gap in its history. Mr. M'Lachlan, in allusion to the insect's habits, states that M. Lucas and others mention its being carnivorous, and spinning a silken web like that of a spider, but which he believes to be for protection from its enemies, while he doubts its carnivorous habits, regarding it as probably a vegetable feeder. He then entered into the subject of systematic position, structure, distribution, number of species, concluding with a detailed description and zoological remarks on those now known. He observed that the larva of a species of Embia has been noticed in fossil amber. The living forms inhabit both hemispheres at spots wide apart. None are known from Australia.
Mr. G. Busk verbally explained the more important points in the succeeding paper, viz., "Observations on British Polyzoa," by the worthy field-naturalist, Mr. C. Peach. The latter has faithfully described and delineated a number of forms of this marine family, some of which he considers as new to science, and of other known genera and species he adds much information regarding their habits and history. For instance, Scrupocellaria scruposa he finds has tubulous wool-fibre-like roots, armed with spines, by which it attaches itself to certain sponges, &c., a fact which appears to have been overlooked in all works on British Zoophytes, though Mr. Busk, in his ' Catalogue of Marine Polyzoa,' has adverted to S. Macandrei from the coast of Spain and S. ferox from Bass' Straits as possessing "radical tubes hooked." Eschara stellata and Discopora meandrina, both dredged by Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys off Shetland in 1864, Mr. Peach considers as new species.
A short, partly descriptive, paper by Mr. Edward J. Miers, "On Species of Crustacea living within the Venus' Flower-basket (Euplectella) and in Meyerina claviformis," was laid before the meeting. Among the late Dr. J.S. Bowerbank's collection of Sponges recently acquired by the British Museum authorities was a bottle containing Crustacea from within Alcyonellum speciosum, from Zebu, Philippines, ninety-five fathoms. The existence of Crustacea within some of the vitreous sponges has been long known; nevertheless a technical account of the species so imprisoned has been hitherto somewhat defective. Mr. Miers' account of Spongicola venusta, De Haan, of Æga spongiophila, Semper, and of Cirolana multidigitata supply this want.
Several interesting botanical papers were read and discussed, viz., Dr. Maxwell Masters, "On the Morphology of Primroses;" the Rev. G. Henslow, "Note on the Numerical Increase of Parts of Plants;" Mr. Marcus Hartog, "On the Floral Development and Symmetry in the Order Sapotaceæ;" and "A Notice of the Lichens of the 'Challenger' Expedition," by the Rev. J.M. Crombie.
June 21, 1877.— The Rev. G. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., in the chair.
Dr. John M'Douald, Gothic House, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, was duly elected a Fellow of the Society.
Mr. P. Herbert Carpenter, B.A., orally demonstrated from diagrams the gist of a well-illustrated memoir by him, "On the Genus Actinometra (Müll), with a Morphological Account of a new Species from the Phihppine Islands." In his MS. the author shows the impossibility of adhering to Miiller's classification of the Comatulæ, according to the number of the ambulacra which radiate' from the peristone, and the necessity of extending the limits of Müller's genus Actinometra, so as to include all those forms of Alecto, in which the mouth is eccentric, and which have no place in the genus Antedon as defined by Mr. Norman. Another feature of many Actinometræ is the complete closure of the ambulacral grooves on more or fewer of the posterior or aboral arms, and the entire absence from such arms of a ventral ciliated epithelium, and of the so-called ambulacral nerve beneath it. The rosette of Actinometra presents a more embryonic condition than that of Antedon, the primitive basals undergoing a less complete metamorphosis; but it is closely anchylosed to fine prismatic pieces, which result from more or less complete ossification round the connective tissue-fibres of the synostosis between the centro-dorsal piece and radial pentagon. These pieces, traces of which also occur in Antedon Eschrichtii are closely similar to the fine basals of Solanocrinus costatus of the Wurtemburg Jurakalk, except in the fact that they do not as in Solanocrinus appear on the exterior of the calyx.
In the absence of the author, the Secretary shortly referred to a "Description of Genera and Species of Australian Phytophagous Beetles," by Dr. Joseph S. Baly. In this communication fourteen species, in all, of the genera Triocephala, Rhombostromus, Bucharis, Polyachus and Ditiopidus are treated of.
The title only of Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe's third part of his "Contributions to the Ornithology of New Guinea" was announced, the author himself not being present.
This was followed by Dr. W.C. M'Intosh's paper, "On the Annelida obtained during the Cruise of H.M.S. 'Valorous' to Davis Strait in 1875."
The specimens were collected by Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, though barely in such good condition as those received from the 'Porcupine' and 'Osprey' Expeditions. Since the days of Fabricius, the Annelids of the Greenlandic Seas have received unusual attention in comparison with those of other parts, Œrsted, Malmgren, Otto Zorell, Luthen and others having added considerably to the number known. Though, by an unfortunate circumstance, the dredging received a check, and limited the species of marine Polychata to about sixty-eight, yet of this comparatively small number thirteen are new to the Greenlandic area, and in addition nine are new to ecience. As far as at present can be judged by the Annelids, Dr. Jeffreys' opinion, that the Greenlandic Invertebrates are more European than American, is substantiated. Dr. M'Intosh describes in detail the various species and genera obtained, and gives good drawings of the anatomy of some of the new and most remarkable forms. He also adds a useful note concerning the best method of preserving these soft and delicate creatures.
The abstract of a "Monograph of the Gymnozoidal Discostomatous Flagellata, with a new Scheme of Classification of the Protozoa," by Mr. W. Saville-Kent, was read by the Secretary. In this communication the writer places on record the results of his extended investigations among that remarkable "collar-bearing" group of the flagellate Infusoria first introduced to scientific notice by the late Prof. H. J. Clark of Pennsylvania, in 1868. By Mr. Kent's researches, the group is now made to embrace no less than eight well-marked genera and about forty species, in place of the two genera and four species first introduced by Prof. Clark. The majority of the members of this group are sedentary in their habits, being attached in a sessile manner by a pedicle to aquatic objects. Compound colonies are frequently produced, rivalling in luxuriance, &c,, colony stalks of Epistylis, &c., among higher ciliate Infusoria. Some are characterized by inhabiting transparent Coricæ, after the manner of Vaginicola, and others rove freely through the water. All are of such minute size as to require a magnifying power of at least 500 diameters for their investigation, and possibly to this circumstance they may so long have escaped the attention of observers. The chief significance that attaches to the collar-bearing group in question is the circumstance, first recognized by Prof. J. Clark, that similar animalcules constitute the fundamental basis and the essential living units of all known Sponges. This identity of structure, confirmed by the investigations of Mr. Carter, has been followed up in Mr. Kent's memoir, and is held by him to be subversive of Prof. Haeckel's theory as to the coelenterate nature of Sponges. Mr. Kent further submits a proposition for a new classification of the subkingdom Protozoa, which he divides into four leading natural groups of equal value, the distinctive features of which are afforded by the characters of the oral or interruptive area. These Protozoan groups are termed by him, (1) Olostomata, (2) Polystomata, (3) Discostomata, and (4) Monostomata.
Another paper, which may be considered as appertaining to a zoological moot subject, was read by Prof. Charlton Bastian, viz., "On the Conditions favouring Fermentation and the Appearances of Bacteria." In this the author puts his matter in a fourfold aspect:—1. He makes known in detail certain experimental conditions which he has found to be highly favourable to the occurrence of fermentation in boiled fluids.2. He records fresh instances of the occurrence of fermentation in boiled acid fluids, which according to M. Pasteur invariably remain barren.3. He brings forward certain crucial evidence upon the disputed interpretation of the fertility of boiled neutral or faintly alkaline fluids.4. He adduces further instances of fermentation of fluids heated to 230° Fahr. and upwards.
The botanical contributions read in full or abstract at this meeting were as follows:— "Fungi of the Counties of Dublin and Wicklow," by Mr. Greenwood Pim; "Notes on the Peculiarities and Distribution of the Rubiaceæ of Tropical Africa," by Mr. P. Hiern; "Note on the Automatic Movement of the Leaves of the Blimbing of India, Anerrhoa Blimbi (L.)," by Mr. R.I. Lynch; and a highly interesting memoir, by Dr. D. Cunningham, "On Mycoidea parasitica, a new genus of Algæ, and the part it plays in the formation of certain Lichens."
With a few parting remarks from the Chairman, the session closed. — James Murie, Secretary.
Entomological Society of London.
July 4, 1877.— Professor J.O. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., President, in the chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
Donations to the Library were announced and thanks voted to the donors.
Mr. J. W. Douglas exhibited a living specimen of Cerambyx Heros bred from a log of wood imported from Bosnia; also a young larva of the same species from the same source.
Prof. Westwood exhibited a number of cases constructed by the larva of some species of Phryganea inhabiting Southern Europe. They were composed of small semi-transparent quartz-like particles, and had been described by Svvainson in 1840 as a shell belonging to the genus Thelidomus, div. Turbineæ.
Prof. Westwood also exhibited a specimen of a plant-bug (Capsidæ) which had been sent to him by Mr. Alexander Wallace, together with the leaf of an orchis (Cattleya Aclande), from Bahia. The leaf was covered all over with blisters caused by the attacks of the insect.
Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited a female specimen of Cicada montana, taken in his presence in the New Forest by Mr. Henry Auld, who stated that he was attracted to the spot where the insect was concealed by hearing it stridulate.
Mr. J.W. Douglas suggested that possibly the specimen caught did not give rise to the sound heard, but that it was produced by a male concealed near.
Mr. Weir remarked that he had searched for the stridulating organ in the specimen exhibited, and had found traces, although developed but slightly in comparison with those of the male.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited two living specimens of Tillus unifasciatus, taken near Norwood. They fly rapidly in the sunshine, and settle on oak-palings.
Mr. J.P. Mansell Weale read notes "On Variations in Rhopalocerous forms inhabiting South Africa." The author, after stating that he had travelled over most of the eastern districts of the Cape Colony, alluded to the distribution of plants as affecting that of insects, and noticed the apparent encroachments of the subtropical flora and insect fauna along the south-eastern seaboard, the absence of any great barriers and the general uniformity tending to produce close variations. He exhibited and remarked on a large series of Papilio merope, male and female, some reared by him, and all collected in one small wooded gully, isolated in an open grass country. He also exhibited male and female Nymphales xiphares (Thyestes), the male of which is wanting in the National Collection, remarking on the apparent imitation by the female of Amauris Echeria. He next exhibited and remarked on a series of imagines of Aeræa Esetria, some of the forms of which are separated by some entomologists, and stated that all the forms had been reared from larvae collected on a single plant. He next exhibited a series of Innonia Pelasgis and Archesia, showing a very close gradation linking the two forms, and showed that some of the latter approached I. Amestris, although the alliance was not so evident as in I. Pelasgis. He objected to the use of the name "species" as too freely used among plants and insects, and suggested that it merely implied a provisionally uncertain distinction of apparently important differences. In illustration of this, he exhibited specimens of Callosune Evarne and Keiskamma, two forms hitherto held distinct, but of which the ova, larvæ and pupæ exhibited no differences, although in two broods in successive years the forms appeared separately. He also remarked on artificially produced changes in the pupæ.
Prof. Westwood stated that he had just received collections of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera from South Africa, collected by Mr. Gates.
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. W.G. Gibson, of Dumfries, stating that Colias Edusa had made its appearance in that district during the month of June, and suggesting that its occurrence might be accounted for by the large importation of foreign clover.
Prof. Westwood stated that Mr. Alexander Wallace had informed him that both Colias Edusa and Hyale were very common about Colchester in June.
Prof. Westwood brought under the Society's notice the recent accounts of the appearance of the Colorado beetle in Ontario and near Cologne.
Mr. May handed in a copy of the Memorandum issued by the Canadian Minister of Agriculture in relation to this insect.
Part II. of the 'Transactions' for 1877 was on the table.—R. Meldola, Hon. Sec.