Societies and Academies

Abstract

London Linnean Society, March 7.—Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair.—Mr. Thos. Christy exhibited a series of fruits, among which were Chinese quinces, chayottes, and a remarkable citron known in China as the “claw of Buddha.”—Prof. Ray Lankester also brought forward and made remarks on a collection of fossil walrus tusks (Trichecodon Huxlevi[?]) from the Suffolk crag, and sent him for examination by Mr. J. E. Taylor, of the Ipswich Museum.—Examples of a variety of Helix virgata were likewise shown by Mr. Rich.—On nudibranchiate mollusca from the. eastern seas, by Dr. C. Colling-wood, was the first paper read. He remarks that residents searching carefully within limited areas have more chance of obtaining new and interesting forms than have zoologists or extensively equipped expeditions who but pay hurried visits to tropical coasts. Season and other influences have much to do with abundance or paucity of species in given localities. He gives curious instances of specimens of nudibranchs, isolated in a dish of sea-water spontaneously and uncommonly neatly amputating the region of then: own mouth. With other information the author further describes sixteen new species, illustrating the same with coloured drawings from nature. Mr. Thos. Median's paper, on the laws governing the production of seed.in Wistaria sinensis, was communicated by the Rev. G. Henslpw in the absence of the author. The latter alludes, to the fact that the Wistaria, when supported, grows amazingly, but is seedless; on the contrary, the self-supporting so-called “tree-wistarias” produce seeds abundantly. These cases illustrate the difference between vegetative and reproductive force; they are not antagonistic, but supplement each other. While Wistaria flowers freely without seeding, it has been supposed this arises from the bees not cross-fertilising. Mr. Meehan submits data, however, in which he thinks the question lies rather in the harmonious relation between the two above nutritive powers than with insect pollenisation.—The Rev. M. J. Berkeley in an examination of the fungi collected during the Arctic Expedition 1875-76, mentions twenty-six species were obtained, all determined save two. Seven are new species, and seventeen already known widely distributed forms. The Agaricus Feildeni and Urnula Hartii are unusually interesting.—A paper on the development of Filaria sanguinis hominis, and on the mosquito considered as a nurse, by Dr. P. Manson, was read by Dr. Cobbold. Discussing general questions, he proceeds to show that the female mosquito, after gorging with human blood, repairs to stagnant water and semi-torpidly digests the blood. Eggs are deposited which float on the water and become the familiar “jumpers” of pools. The filarise thus enter the human system along with the drinking water. Dr. Manson got a Chinaman whose blood was previously ascertained to abound with filariæ to sleep in a “mosquito house.” In the morning the gorged insects were captured and duly examined under the microscope. A drop of blood from the mosquito was thus found to contain 120 filarite, though a drop from a prick of the man's finger yielded only some thirty. The embryo once taken into the human body by fluid medium pierces the tissues of the alimentary canal. Development and fecundation proceed apace, and finally the filariæ met with in the human blood are discharged in successive and countless swarms, the genetic cycle being thus completed.—Dr. Cobbold, on his own behalf, further contributed a paper on the life history of Filariœ bancrofti, as explained by the discoveries of Wucherer, Lewis, Bancroft, Manson, Sonsino, and others.—Mr. Charles C. B. Hobkirk, of Huddersfield, was duly elected a Fellow of the Society.