WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4881, 13 November 1876, Page 3

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

The adjourned meeting of the above Society took place in the Lecture Hall of the Colonial Museum on Saturday evening Last, the President, Hr. Buller, C.M.G., in the chair. After the usual formal business, the secretary announced the election of Messrs. J. C. Pounall, of Palmerston, and H. P. Higginsori, C.E., as members of the society. ' : The first paper read was by Mr. P. W. Prankland, “ On the simplest continuous manifoldness of two, dimensions, and of finite extent.” The author had to deal with an abstruse mathematical subject, which he handled in an able manner, demonstrating his propositions on the blackboard. The paper was listened to with attention throughout, but there was no discussion upon it. The nest paper was one by Mr. T. Kirk. E.L.S., containing “ Descriptions of two new species of Veronica.” The author adds Veronica obovata and Veronica canescens to the list of this genus in New Zealand, which already numbers upwards of forty species. The former of these is allied to Veronica Imvis, from which, however, it may readily be distinguished by : the , larger leaves, the lax vacemes and peculiar habit ; the. other, which is a very distinct species, is one of the most minute flowering plants in the New Zealand flora, and is the only native species which produces solitary axillary flowers. Specimens of both were Exhibited. Dr. Duller read- the description of a new lizard of the genus Naultinus, and exhibited •water-color drawings of the adult and young, taken from v specimens brought over from Nelson, and presented to him. by Mr. Arthur Atkinson. - The new lizard, for which the author proposed the name of Naultinus pulcherrirrius, is beautifully marked in green and brown, the latter color predominating. The green, which is very bright, is displayed in large diamond-shaped spots, arranged symmetrically on both sides of the spine, down thewhole courseof the back; theunder parts are pale silvery brown, and on each side of the body there is a series of detached spots of white, margined with green. The young of this species is of a bright pea-green color, varied with transverse bands : of paler green, and marked irregularly with minute specks of reddish brown. The author referred to the extreme variability of color in Naultinus degans, but pointed out that the present species (of which several other.etamples have been obtained), is distinguished by an orange-colored mouth aud tongue, these parts being always blue in the other. Apart from the general superficial coloring, which is very pronounced, he considered this a good specific character. He concluded with a general review of the genus Naultinus- in New. Zealand, in the course of which he mentioned that a large flat-headed species had been brought from The Brothers, where it formed the staple food of the tnatara. Both Dr. Hector and himself had come independently to the conclusion that this form was distinct from the well-known N. ,~j»icificus; but as Dr. Giinther, the greatest ffving authority on the subject, had pronounced against it, there could be no doubt that it was merely a lecal form of the latter. Dr. Hector said he quite agreed with the President that the orange-colored tongue separated this lizard as a species, from Naultinus degans, otherwise it might have been taken as a variety of that form with the colors and markings greatly exaggerated. With regard to this large flat-headed species mentioned by Dr, Buller, he might state that he took specimens with him to England and submitted them to Dr. Gunther. The type of Gray’s Naultinus paeificus in the British Museum was produced, and this was exactly the same from which it would appear that our common tree-lizard is the aberrant form, and the island one the true Naultinus paeificus Whether these differences were considered of specific importance or not, he deemed it of the highest interest that descriptions should bo obtained of every known variety. Dr. Buller read next a paper “ On insect architecture ; or notes on the habits of the spider-wasp of New Zealand.” He commenced with a short review of the order Hymenoptera, and then gave a full account of the natural history of a species of spider-wasp (PompUus) colnmonly called the “mason bee,” on account of the skill and ingenuity with which it constructs a clay habitation for its young. The genus PompUus, according to the author of this paper, has a wide geographic range, extending from the temperate regions to the tropics, tad embracing some five hundred recorded forms. The whole group, _ it would appear, are parasitic in their habits, and in depositing their eggs in their skilfully-con-structed nests they take care to-lay up a store of spiders’ bodies by way of provision for a future family. A specimen of the nest was exhibited to the meeting, the interior construction being shown by a longitudinal section. It consists of a double row of cells composed of clay, and very neatly finished, each compartment being completely shut off from the adjoining ones Jana hermetically sealed. Each of these cells before being closed is filled with spiders, in the bodies of which the wasp deposits her eggs. The spiders thus stored are not killed, but are rendered insensible by the injection of soma occult poison from the body of this'insect. The sting of the wasp appears to. penetrate the ncrveus centres and to paralyse the victim without depriving it of life, so that it . may exist iu a comatose or torpid state for many weeks, or till required to furnish food

for a future larvae. The’wasp oviposits in the body of the paralysed spider; the grub batches out in due course, and then feeds on the spider till it attains its full size,' when it spins itself a thin silken covering or cocoon, and remains in an inactive state until the following spring, when it, completes its transformations. The author quoted authorities to show-that the same parasitic habits were common to all the PompUidce ; one of the authors cited, expressing his belief that the poisonous acid of Hymenoptera has an antiseptic and preserving property, inasmuch as caterpillars and locusts (ns observed by him in South Africa) retain their colors weeks after being strung, and this too, in a moist situation under a burning sun. The author concluded with some notes on the subject communicated by Major Mair, R.M., to the Auckland Institute in June, 1875, and a more recent contribution by Captain G. Mair, giving an account of his own observa-, tions on this remarkable insect. The paper was illustrated by a large diagram of the nest containing cocoons and spiders, and the subject appeared to excite considerable interest. Dr. Hector wished to be informed whether the spider wasp was known to the natives, or whether there was any positive evidence of its being an indigenous insect ? It had become plentiful during the past few yearn, and could be seen in the midst of its building operations any day in the grounds adjoining the Museum. Dr. Buller said that Captain Mair had observed it in 1857, and he had himself met with it at the north of Auckland more than twenty years ago. The natives generally considered it an introduced insect, but he was not of that opinion himself. Mr. J. H. Wallace said he had a distinct recollection of it thirty years ago on his first arrival at Wellington. Mr. Higginson said that the account given by the President agreed entirely with what he had himself witnessed in the habits of a similar insect at the Mauritius many years ago. But this wasp appeared to prefer key-holes to any other situation in which to construct its nest. Dr. Hector said he had observed the same predisposition in the New Zealand species. Mr. Buchanan believed our species to be identical with one inhabiting Australia. Mr. Young said that the interesting details given by the President appeared to describe exactly what he had observed with a wasp in Tasmania, of which he proceeded to give some interesting particulars. There was another species in Tasmania of a reddish color, which formed burrows, for similar purposes, in the hardest clay. Mr. Gore reported that he had found a nest in the tube of an old barometer hanging in the porch at the Observatory. The President made some remarks in reply, and then called on Mr. Kirk to read his paper “On Native Grasses.” This was a valuable treatise, full of - practical information. The discussion upon it , was postponed till next meeting, when. we hope to be able to give an outline of it for the information of our readers. The President said he hoped this paper might be taken as the earnest of a work on grasses, which it was understood Mr. Kirk had in contemplation. The next meeting of the society will take place on Saturday, the 25th inst.