Societies and Academies

Abstract

LONDONLinnean Society, March 18.—Prof. Allman, F.R.S., president, in the chair.—The President said that before entering on the ordinary business of the meeting it became his melancholy duty to announce the death of Prof. Thos. Bell at the age of eighty-seven. Prof. Bell was the oldest Fellow of the Society, having been elected into it in the year 1815. He had held the presidential chair for many years, and under his judicious and able guidance the Society had marvellously advanced in prosperity. He was a distinguished zoologist, and by his researches had largely advanced our knowledge of the fauna of the British Isles. His labours have left their mark on the zoology of Britain, and it is hard to say who can take his place in the department of natural history, in which he had shown himself so loving and conscientious an observer. He was known personally to many here present, and by reputation to all of us, and the meeting will receive with sorrow the sad announcement that he has his place no longer among the Fellows.—Mr. Thos. Christy exhibited a collection of dried flowers from Western Australia, made by Mrs. Bunbury. She observes that the once common native flowers are becoming rapidly scarce in the pasture land of the colony, and that it is even difficult to propagate them by culture.—There was also shown for Mr. J. T. Carrington a male and female example of the Northern Stone Crab (Lithodes arctica), which had lived in the Westminster Aquarium. The peculiar asymmetry of the abdominal segments in the female was adverted to, and from this and other reasons an affinity with the Hermit Crabs pointed out.mdash;The Secretary read a communication from Mr. H. M. Brewer, of Wanganui Acclimatisation Society, on the indigenous timber and on plants introduced into New Zealand. Among the former, “Manaka”(Leptospermum ericoides) is useful for spokes, tool-handles, &c.; “Korohai” (Sophora tetraptera) forms admirable material for carving, &c.; “Totara”(Podocarpa totara) is most durable for piles, railway sleepers, &c.; red birch (Fagus fusca), on account of its strength, is well adapted for beams and framework; and the “Matai”(P. spicata) is so durable that a prostrate tree found in damp bush and supposed to have lain there for a couple of centuries still retained its soundness when cut up. Of plants introduced quite a host thrive out of doors. Aicong others the coral tree (Erythrina caffra), with its brilliant scarlet flowers. Fourcroyia gigantea, which produces a fine fibre and grows well without any cultivation on the waste clay hills; also F. flavoviridis, another fibre-yielding plant. Chamærops excelsa, C. humilis, Musa textilis, and M. sapientum, equally thrive, the banana ripening good fruit. Broussonetia papyrifera, from which paper is made in Japan. The pomegranate (Punica granatum) and the olive (Olea europæa) hereafter are likely to become important as commercial products. The Natal plum (Arduina grandiflord), the fig (Ficus carica), custard-apple (Anona muricata), Eriobotrya japonica, ginger (Zingiber officinalis), the tallow tree (Slillingia sebifera), cinnamon, camphor, orange, lemon, and citrons, besides many other sub-tropical plants, afford sufficient proof of the mildness of the climate and capabilities of the country ultimately to depend on its own resources. Of araucarias and pines a great number of introduced species have thriven well, some only requiring a little shelter at first. Oaks, eltrs, poplars, &c., all take naturally to the New Zealand soil, but sufficient has been said to indicate the great variety of flora indigenous and introduced into this flourishing though distant colony.—A paper by Prof. J. O. Westwood, on a supposed polymorphic butterfly from India, was also read by the Secretary for the author. The Conclusions arrived at are: (1) of Papilio Castor being males of a species whose females have not yet been discovered; (2) that the typical P. Pollux are females of which the male with rounded hind wings having a diffused row of markings has yet to be discovered; and (3) that the coloured figures given by the author represent the two sexes of a dimorphic form of the species.