42
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Prof. Meldola said that he was also most particularly interested in the
examples of protection among galls referred to by the author. He suggested
that the term "protective resemblance" would be more appropriate than
mimicry in such cases. The instance of a gall protecting itself by a secre-
tion which was attractive to ants was one of the most interesting cases he had
heard of of late years. The protection was indirect; the ants protecting the
gall because of the food which they found on it. This was quite parallel
to the case published many years ago by the late Thomas Belt in his well-
known Naturalist in Nicaragua. That distinguished observer had dis-
covered that certain acacias were provided with hollow-thorns which secreted
a juice palatable to ants, these insects finding both food and shelter within
the thorns. By means of these standing armies of ants the shrubs were most
effectively protected from other insect marauders which were immediately
attacked if they alighted on the shrubs. It was a case of symbiotic association
in which both insect and plant benefitted by the association and the same was
doubtless true in the case of the gall mentioned by Mr. Lewis.
Mr. John Spiller, F.C.S., commented in a laudatory way on the beauty
of the drawings shown by Mr. Lewis.
Votes of thanks were passed to the authors of the papers, and the meet-
ing concluded.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIRST ORDINARY
MEETING.
Saturday, February 23RD, 1901,
The 201st Ordinary Meeting of the Club was held in the Physical Lecture
Theatre of the Technical Institute, West Ham, at 6.30 p.m., Mr. David
Howard, J.P., F.C.S., President, in the chair.
The vote of condolence with the Luke of Connaught, Patron of the
Club, on the death of the Queen, passed at the last meeting, had been
engrossed on vellum and forwarded to His Royal Highness. The President
read the following reply which had been received :—
"Buckingham Palace,
"February 11th.
" Sir,
"I am desired by H.R.H, the Duke of Connaught to convey His
Royal Highness' warmest thanks to the members and Council of the Essex
Field Club for the sympathy which they have shown with him in his great
and deplorable loss, and to assure them of his grateful appreciation of their
kind message.
"Believe me,
"Yours very faithfully,
"Alfred Egerton, Col.,
"Comptroller.
" W. Cole, Esq.,
"Secretary, Essex Field Club."
The first business of the meeting was the nomination of officers and new
members of Council in anticipation of the Annual Meeting to be held on