158 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
The President reported that the Corporation of West Ham had now made
proposals for the continuance of the Museum in situ which it was hoped would
eventually lead to a mutually satisfactory settlement. This announcement
was received with applause.
The following were elected to membership of the Club :—
Mrs. E. M. Ward, of 24, Long Deacon Road, Chingford, E.4.
Miss Audrey Bloom, of Woodford County High School (junior member).
Miss Barbara Shiach, of Woodford County High School (junior member).
Mr. Ross exhibited specimens of Synergus radiatus Mayr, an inquiline
Cynipid fly bred by him from Surrey and Kent galls of Andricus glandulae
on Quercus sessiliflora. In reply to a question he then gave some informa-
tion on the precautions necessary in the breeding of gall flies.
Mr. Waller exhibited masses of spores of a hitherto unrecorded fungus
occurring on Sycamore trees in Wanstead Park and gave a preliminary account
of the occurrence (see p. 136). He also exhibited under the microscope
leaf scales of Olearia hastii which, illuminated through a polariscope, were
seen to produce a highly decorative and brightly coloured pattern.
Mr. Pratt showed lantern photographs, taken at Wanstead, of a female
Pied Wagtail which exhibited partial albinism, the feathers of the head and
nape being almost wholly white.
Miss Greaves showed a number of pictures from the, Photographic
Survey collection illustrating the vast changes which had taken place during
the last 20 years in the Barkingside area of Ilford.
Mr. W. H. Spreadbury then read an interesting paper on "Protective
devices of lepidopterous larvae." He said that it was often merely a pre-
sumption that some of these devices did in fact possess survival value. The
persptive powers of the various predators had to be considered rather than
those of the human observer. . If we were able to appreciate the working of
the mind of these animals we should be in a much better position to appraise
their actions. He quoted a number of species of larvae and pupae as
examples and then showed a large number of photographic lantern slides
taken by him to illustrate the various means of protection adopted by dif-
ferent species. On the proposal of the President, seconded by Mr. Pratt, a
hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the speaker.