Abstract
LONDON Linnean Society, November 2.—Sir J. Lubbock, Bart. in the chair.—Prof. J. C. Ewart, G. Fry, and Lord Walsinghain were elected Fellows of the Society.—Mr. A. P. W. Thomas drew attention to a series of specimens under the microscope, and diagrams illustrative of the life history of the Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica). His experiments show that the embryos of the Fluke, as free Cercariæ burrow into and develop within the body of Linnæus truncatulus, and thereafter pass with the herbage into the stomach, and ultimately liver of the sheep. Salt added to the sheep's diet is found to act as a prophylactic.—Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer exhibited specimens and made remarks on the plant producing Cassia lignea, and on the native implements used in the collection and preparation of the Cassia bark in Southern China.—Mr. C. T. Druery showed two proliferous forms of Athyrium filix fæmina, a family hitherto remarkable for its unproliferous nature. Both examples appeared simultaneously; not the least significant feature being their extreme precocity, since bulbil-bearing ferns are proliferous-usually only on their mature fronds.—Mr. F. Crisp exhibited preparations in illustration of the views of Drs. Loew and Bolormy on the difference between dead and living protoplasm, viz, the power of the living organism to reduce silver salts in a very dilute alkaline solution.—Prof. E. Ray Lankester exhibited and made remarks on a series of marine organisms dredged by him, last summer, in the fjords of Norway. Of these may be mentioned a branch of Paragorgia arborea, three feet across, specimens of the same in spirit, as also of Lophelia prolifera, Amphiheria ramea, Stylaster norvegius, Primnoa lepadifera, and Paramuricia ramosa, both dried, and also with the polyps preserved in spirit. The collection also included some very large new forms of Foraminifera specimens of Rhizocrinus Lofotensis, of the aberrant mollusca Neomenia and Chætoderma, and of Rhabdopleura Normani, besides a large series of sponges and Asteroidea.—Mr. T. Christy exhibited a living specimen of the Japanese peppermint plant, which yields the Menthol of commerce, this being the first plant grown in this country. Mr. Holmes mentioned that although this mint did not differ in botanical characters from Mentha arvensis, it had a strong peppermint odour and flavour, which were not found in the specimens growing either in Europe or India. He therefore proposed that the plant should be named M. arvensis, var. piperanens by is ay of distinction.—Mr. J. G. Baker showed a specimen of Lycopodium complanatum collected in Skye by Prof. Lawson.—Sir J. Lubbock then read his tenth communication on the habits of ants, bees, and wasps, a notice of which appeared in our last issue, p. 46.—A paper was read on medicinal plants of North-West Queensland, by W. E. Armit. Among these is a species of Aristolochia and a Croton; also Grewia polygama, a specific for dysentery; Careya arborescens, used for poultices; Erythreæ australis, and Andropogon citriodora, tonics in febrile complaints and Euphorbia pilulafera and Datura australis, valuable in cases of asthma.—A remarkable malformation of the leaves of Beyeria opaca, var. linearis, from Yorkes Peninsula, South Australia, was described by Mr. Otto Tepper.—Dr. F. Day exhibited specimens in illustration of a paper read by him, on variation in form and hybridism in Salmo fontanalis.—Mr. H. N. Ridley afterwards read some teratological notes on a Carex, a Gras, and an Equisetum.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES . Nature 27, 94–96 (1882). https://doi.org/10.1038/027094a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/027094a0