Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/130

108 Ramsay, of Sydney, first named and shortly described in the 'Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.' Professor Owen now supplements this by a fuller account of its skeleton and exterior conformation. Besides noticing the peculiarities in the dentition and skull, Professor Owen dwelt on the structural conditions of the hind foot, which, curiously enough, presents a modification between that of Potoroos and Kangaroos. He then instituted comparisons between these and the feet of the Ostrich group (Struthionidæ), and speculated on the modifications of the five-toed feet revealed by palæontological researches, and as applicable to the Hypsiprymnodon and other living Marsupials, &c.

Professor St. George Mivart gave the abstract of a communication by him, entitled " Notes touching recent Researches on the Radiolaria." In this résume of present knowledge of this interesting group of lowly organisms, the history, progress, &c, and bearings of the group were duly entered into. These remarkable marine surface-swimming and microscopic objects he proposed to arrange after the classification adopted by Professor Ernest Haeckel, but considerably modifying his arrangemeut. The primary groups Professor Mivart would reduce from fifteen to seven, as follows: — 1, Discida; 2, Flagellifera; 3, Entosphorida; 4, Acanthometrida; 5, Polycistma; 6, Collozoa; and 7, Vesciculata.

Several interesting botanical papers were next read, and specimens exhibited; among others, "On the Nutrition of Drosera rotundifolia," by Mr. Francis Darwin, in which he conclusively proves that this plant thrives on flesh.

Mr. J.R. Jackson showed a curious purse-like bird's nest, formed of wool and cotton pod, from South Africa, and forwarded by Sir Bartle Frere to Sir J. Hooker for the Kew Museum.

February 7, 1878.—Professor Allman, F.R.S., President, in the chair.

Sir John Lubbock, Bart., read a paper, "Observations on the Habits of Ants, Bees, and Wasps," being his fifth contribution to the Society on this subject. The present notice is confined to Ants. In continuation of former experiments, he finds that Ants recognise old acquaintances, and speedily attack strangers. Their vaunted intelligence he regards as questionable: for example, in such cases where a thin circle of glycerine bars their access to honey which they already have visited by a paper bridge, for when the latter is taken away they do not pile up but a few grains of the surrounding earth, and thus easily cross the glycerine barrier. Notwithstanding the many observers on the habits of Ants, and the plentifulness of the nests of these creatures, it is still doubtful how their nests are commenced. Sir John's experiments show that the workers of Lasius flavus will not adopt an old queen from another nest. But, on the other hand, he has observed that the queen of Myrmica ruginodus has the