The Zoologist/3rd series, vol 1 (1877)/Issue 3/Proceedings of Scientific Societies
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
Linnean Society of London.
January 18, 1877.—Prof. Allman, President, in the chair.
Mr. Thomas Routledge and Mr. Samuel David Titmas were balloted for and duly elected Fellows of the Society.
The "Amphibious and Migratory Fishes of India" was the title of a very able communication by Dr. Francis Day, a well-known authority on all that relates to the fishes of the region in question. He laid down the following propositions, and by facts endeavoured to substantiate them:—(1) That there are fishes in Asia which normally respire atmospheric air direct; (2) that these fishes possess respiratory organs having a lung-like function, and which is distinct from the gills; (3) that they are essentially amphibious, inasmuch as the accessory organs receive venous and return arterial blood into the general circulation without passing through the branchiæ or gills; (4) that this accessory respiratory sac is certainly not homologous with the swim-bladder of fishes, but is most probably so with the respiratory sac of amphibious reptiles. He gave numerous instances of forms which respire air direct, and can live for long periods after their removal from water, being but little affected by a bandage being placed round their gills preventing the use of these organs. He observed that in the Saccobranchus both a respiratory sac and a swim-bladder co-exist—the one along the muscles of the back, the other more or less enclosed in bone but possessing a pneumatic duct. The migrations of fishes at the commencement of monsoons are due to two causes—breeding purposes and a search for food. The aerial respiration of certain amphibious fishes he regards as a provision to enable those forms to migrate through moist grass and muddy channels. As soon as the rains set in and vegetation starts afresh, insects, worms, land mollusks and other invertebrates are revivified, and with this the fish restlessly seek change of locality and diet, in their search for quarters where these abound. As regards the sudden appearance of fish supposed to have fallen from the clouds, these are occasionally met with in a semi-decomposed state, and are doubtless carried by whirlwinds and storms from shallow waters into mid-air, whence they fall again in most unlooked-for situations. In other innumerable instances the apparently inexplicable profusion of fish in moist spots away from water is accounted for by the remarkable retention of vitality possessed by the mud-loving species, which emerge from torpidity into active life as soon as the waters return.
The Jelly-fish have lately been made the subject of study by Mr. J.G. Romanes, who read a second notice "On Varieties and Monstrous Forms of Medusæ." He expressed surprise that among the group of Jelly-fish, at least the naked-eyed groups, with their low grade of organization and proneness to exhibit phenomena of budding or germination, examples of monstrous and misshapen forms are comparatively rare. In those cases met with by him, especially in the common Aurelia aurita, the deviations from the normal type always occurred in a multiplication or suppression (i.e., abortion) of entire segments. This affects the segments of the umbrella in a remarkably symmetrical manner, whilst the ovaries and manubrium, to a certain extent, may or may not be implicated.
Feb. 1, 1877.— George Bentham, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.The following gentlemen were elected Fellows of the Society:—Messrs. George Boulger (Cressingham, Reading, Berks), Alfred S. Heath (Primrosehill Road, N.W.), and William Meller (Sewardstone, Woodford Green, Essex).
Mr. Alfred W. Bennett exhibited and made some remarks on specimens of insects, illustrating mimicry. These species (Vespa and Asilus) were captured in Syria by Mr. N. Godman.
Curious and interesting examples of double Anemones, and of unusually large oak-leaves gathered near Croydon were shown and commented on by Mr. Samuel Stevens.
Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., then proceeded to read the fourth part of his "Contributions on the Habits of Ants, Bees and Wasps." In this communication his experiments and observations related exclusively to different species of ants, and in the main were a continuation, though with considerable ingenious modifications, of his previous inquiries, to test the intelligence of these insects. In one instance, he filled a saucer with water, put a block of wood therein, and from the top of the block a horizontal wooden rod leading to a glass cell containing abundance of larvæ. A strip of paper was then placed as a kind of inclined plane between the latter and the nest. Another larger block of wood of an ┌ shape, the horizontal arm of which overhung the glass cell with the larvæ, and merely separated by three-tenths of an inch from the latter, this space being occupied with a paper slip hanging right on to the larvæ; thus ┌ ┐: there were two direct routes from the nest to the larvæ, which specimens of Lasius niger took advantage of and for several hours carried off larvæ from the cell. But no sooner was the three-tenths of an inch interval left open than the ants were foiled in access to the larvæ, and neither were they intelligent enough to drop three-tenths of an inch or congregate en masse to the same height, and thus form a connection whereby their companions could get at the desired food-store. Industry was conspicuously shown by one individual, which Sir John used to place in solitary confinement in a bottle as he left home for the day; but when liberated on his return home the creature immediately commenced labour. On one occasion, after a week's absence, the ant was no sooner released than it bravely entered on its larval-gathering propensities. It seems from other experiments that ants in difficulties within sight of their companions are by no means always assisted or relieved, any store of honey or other food having attractions of far greater interest for them. On putting some specimens under the influence of chloroform, little or no notice was taken of their insensible companions; in some cases even their friends pushed them out of the way; the tendency was to let their friends lie, but strangers were dropped over the edge of the board. It seems that to get ants properly intoxicated with spirit, for experimental purposes, is no easy matter, some recovering too quickly, and others remaining so thoroughly drunk as to come under the rank of incapables. The sober individuals appear exceedingly puzzled at finding their friends in such a condition. As a rule, they picked them up and carried them to the nest, whilst strangers they threw into the water and drowned. In some instances, however, confusion ensued, for a few of the strangers were carried to the nest and friends were thrown into the water; but they did not return to the rescue of their friends, and occasionally they discovered the strangers in the nest and turned them out. Other interesting experiments were made to test the ants' recollection of friends, and Sir John expresses surprise that the ants of an entire nest evidently recognise and know each other. Even after a year's separation, old companions are recognised and amicably received, whereas strangers almost invariably are attacked and maltreated, even when introduced in the mixed company of old friends. There is a difference in this respect, however, among species; for while Lasius flavus behaves as above mentioned, Formica fusca shows a milder and much more courteous demeanour towards neighbours and strangers. In certain kinds of ants sight does not seem to be a very acute sense, inasmuch as the subjoined repeated experiments prove:—Food was placed a few inches from the nest on a glass slip, the straight road to and from which marked ants soon learned, but when the food had been shifted only a short distance from its first position, the same ants kept meandering in an extraordinary circuitous path from several minutes to half an hour before finding out the exact route from food to nest, and vice versa. A diagrammatic chart of the path pursued appeared as one mass of confused and intricate cross lines. Slavery in certain genera is a positive institution, the Amazon ants (Polyergus rufescens) absolutely requiring a slave assistant to clean, dress and feed them. Repeated and varied experiments go to prove that they will rather die than help themselves. There are also parasite attendants on the ants, the curious blind wood-louse (Platyarthrus Hoffmanseggii) being common in nests; but the ants pay little attention to them, and when migrating leave these scavengers behind. Certain Diptera of the family Thoridæ are also parasitic on ants, Sir John having discovered some new species, the recently described Thora formicarum and Platyphora Lubbocki of Mr. G.H. Verrall.
A paper "On the Aspects of the Vegetation of Rodriguez" was read by Dr. I. Bailey Balfour, B.M., who, as Botanist, accompanied the Transit of Venus Expedition to that island in 1874. It seems that, like the Fauna, the Flora of Rodriguez has undergone very considerable changes, through human, subsidiary and local influences.
"The Fungi of the 'Challenger' Expedition" (third notice), by the Rev. M.J. Berkely, and "Tropical Ferns," by Prof. Harrington, U.S., were the titles of two other botanical communications which were taken as read.
Zoological Society of London.
February 6, 1877.—Osbert Salvin, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the Society's Menagerie during the month of January.
Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on some unnoticed characters in the original and unique specimen of Comrie's Manucode (Manucodia Comrii, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1876, p. 459).
Mr. Howard Saunders exhibited a specimen of the Panay Sooty Tern (Sterna anæstheta), which had been obtained on the English coast, and was the first recorded occurrence of this bird in the British Islands.[1]
Dr. A. Günther read a memoir on the Tortoises collected by Commander Cookson, R.N., during the visit of H.M.S. 'Peterel' to the Galapagos Islands. The main results of Commander Cookson 's visit consisted in giving us a knowledge of the Tortoise of Abingdon Island (Testudo Abingdoni) and of the Tortoise of the North of Albemarle Island (T. microphyes).
A communication was read from Mr. Robert Collett, containing an account of his observations on Phylloscopus borealis, as met with on the Varanger Fjord and adjacent parts of Finmark.
Mr. Sclater read a note on an apparently new species of Spur-winged Goose of the genus Plectropterus, proposed to be called P. niger, founded on two examples living in the Society's Gardens, which had been presented to the Society by Lieut.-General A.V. Cunningham.
Prof. A.H. Garrod read a paper on the mechanism of the invertebral substance and on some effects resulting from the erect position of man.
A communication was read from Sir Victor Brooke, containing notes on the small Rusine Deer of the Phihppine Islands, and giving the description of a new species proposed to call Cervus nigricans, of which a female example was recently living in the Society's Gardens.
A paper by Mr. O. Salvin and Mr. Ducane Godman was read, giving the description of twelve new species and a new genus of butterflies from Central America.
Dr. Günther gave an account of the Zoological Collection made during the visit of H.M.S. 'Peterel' to the Galapagos Islands, which had been worked out by himself and his assistants in the Zoological Department of the British Museum.
Mr. R.B. Sharpe communicated the description of a new species of Pheasant of the genus Lobiophasis and of a new species of Pitta from the Lawas River, N.W. Borneo. Mr. Sharpe proposed to call the former L. castaneicaudatus, and the latter, Pitta Ussheri.—P.L. Sclater.
Entomological Society of London.
February 7, 1877.— Prof. Westwood, M.A., President, in the chair. The Secretary read a list of donations to the Library since the date of the last meeting, and thanks were voted to the donors.
Election of a Subscriber.
William Denison Roebuck, Esq., of Leeds, Hon. Sec. of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society and of the Leeds Natural History Society, was balloted for and elected a Subscriber.
The President nominated Messrs. J.W. Douglas, J.W. Dunning and Henry T. Stainton as Vice-Presidents for the ensuing year.
The President then delivered the Address, which he was prevented from delivering at the Annual Meeting, on the progress of Entomology during the past year, and which was ordered to be printed.
Exhibitions, &c.
Mr. F. Bond (on behalf of Mr. Cooke, of Brighton) exhibited another specimen of the North-American butterfly, Danais Archippus, taken during the second week of September last by Mr. Alford Wood, of New Close, Keymer, Sussex, flying over a field of clover near Hassock's Gate. This was the third specimen recorded as having been taken in this country; the first having been captured near Neath on the 6th September, and the second near Hayward's Heath on the 17th October, 1876, and recorded in the 'Entomologist's Monthly Magazine' for October, and in 'The Entomologist' for December, 1876.
The President brought for exhibition a specimen of the singular butterfly Bhutanitis Lidderdalii, Atkinson, from Bhotan. He also read a letter which he had received from Baron v. Osten-Sacken, referring to his paper on the genus Systropus, published in the last part of the 'Transactions' of this Society, in which he had stated that a species received from Natal (S. crudelis) had been bred from a cocoon resembling that of Limacodes, found on a tree of the genus Mimosa. The letter referred the President to a paper by Benj. D. Walsh in the 'Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History' (vol. ix., p. 300, 1864), in which he relates that he had bred a dipteron from a cocoon of Limacodes hyalinus. This dipteron, which he had communicated to Baron Osten-Sacken, proved to be the common North-American Systropus (S. macer, Loew), and was a remarkable instance of community of habit among insects of the same genus in far distant regions.
The President had also been informed by M. Ernest Olivier, of Moulin, who had recently visited Pompeii, that he had observed large numbers of Bombylii flying in company with a bee of which he had forwarded a specimen, but this proved to be an Anthophora (probably A. nigrocincta), and not an Andrena, like those described in his paper in the last part of the 'Transactions' ("Notæ Dipterologicæ," No. 1).
Mr. M'Lachlan exhibited a case of a Lepidopterous larva sent by Dr. Kirk from Zanzibar, who had found it on a species of Mimosa. He considered it to be allied, probably, to Psyche and Oiketicus, and was remarkable on account of its form, which bore a striking resemblance to that of a flattened Helix. It appeared to be constructed of a substance resembling papier maché, with a smooth whitish external coating.
Mr. C.O. Waterhouse exhibited varieties of British Lepidoptera, viz., Chrysophanus phlœas, Polyommatus Adonis, P. Alexis and Agrotis exclamationis.
Dr. F. Buchanan White forwarded to the Society the following account of a case of "Pruritus from an Unusual Cause," by Dr. Tilbury Fox, extracted from the 'Medical Examiner' of 21st December, 1876: —
"At the end of July, 1876, a gentleman resident in the Eastern Counties noticed on the eyelid of his infant a small red speck, which on examination with a hand-microscope proved to be a living parasite, partially imbedded in the skin. Several days subsequently his wife was greatly annoyed by pruritus, and her neck and chest were found studded here and there with these little red specks, which at first sight were thought to be "petechiæ," but turned out to be insects. They could be readily extracted with a pin. In the attempt to discover the source whence the parasites came, a pet pug dog was examined, and then collections of these parasites on the nose and between the eyes—where, in fact, the hair was least thick—were discovered. During August the little red visitors caused excessive annoyance to the servants and everyone in the house, defying all remedial measures, though some members of the household were very much less affected than others. Remove them as you would, the next day a fresh supply appeared, and the insects were found on the arms of the infant as well as the face, on the back, neck and chest, and even the nipples of the adults. A favourite long-haired French cat was examined, because one of the family after nursing it was greatly annoyed, and the ears were found infested. The hair fell off, leaving bald patches where the parasites were congregated on the dog and the cat. In the middle of August the animals were shut up, isolated, and regularly dressed with equal parts of sulphurous acid and glycerine, and the plague began to diminish at once. The members of the household had tried citrine ointment, compound sulphur ointment, detergent solution of tar, &c.; but still the nuisance continued in some degree, and a second cat was found affected. But when all the animals were shut out of the house the mischief did not cease. There was some doubt and difference of opinion with regard to the exact species of the parasite. A specimen was submitted to my friend Dr. Cobbold, and he pronounced it to be Trombidium, or garden mite, which lives on plants. It is closely related to the true mites, the itch insect, the little red "spider" of hot-houses, and the well-known Leptus autumnalis, or "harvest-bug." The annoying pruritus about the legs produced by the latter at the end of the summer, after a walk in the fields, &c, is well known to every one; and Dr. Heiberg has lately recorded that the nuisance assumed an epidemic form in a village in Denmark. In the present case the pruritus was chiefly around the neck and shoulders, and several parasites were removed from the eyelids. The plants in the garden were not examined to see if plant-mites were very abundant there, as this exact source was not suspected at the time. There can be little doubt, I think, that the original source must have been certain plants in the garden; that the house pets, who were undoubtedly first affected, were agents in the conveyance of the main portion of the parasites to the human members of the family, but not exclusively, the probability being that many of the people, especially after the pet cats and dog were excluded from the house, managed to be infected directly from the original source."
Papers read.
"Notes on the African Saturnidæ in the Collection of the Royal Dublin Society." By W. F. Kirby.
"Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Phytophagous Beetles belonging to the Family Cryptocephalidæ, together with Diagnoses and Remarks on previously described Genera." By Joseph S. Baly, F.L.S.
"Descriptions of new Species of Phytophagous Beetles belonging to the Family Eumolpidæ, and a Monograph of the Genus Eumolpus." By Joseph S. Baly, F.L.S., &c.—F.G.
- ↑ See: Saunders, Howard—"On the Occurrence of the Smaller Sooty Tern at the Mouth of the Thames", in: The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1, issue 5 (May 1877), p. 213–216 (Wikisource-ed.)