V PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY VOL. XXXIII. SESSION 1918-1919. APR«419»J LIVERPOOL: C. Tinljng & Co., Ltd., Printers, 53, Victoria Street. 19 19. — 1>0»JW 4 CONTENTS. I. Proceedings. PAGE Office-bearers and Council, 1918-1919 ... vii Report of the Council ...... viii Summary of Proceedings at the Meetings . ix List of Members ....... xiii Treasurer's Balance Sheet ..... xvi II. Transactions. — Presidential Address " Surface Films." By Prof. W. Ramsden, M.A., DM 3 Thirty-second Annual Report of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee and their Biological Station at Port Erin. (With an Address upon " Periodic Change in Nature.") By Prof. W. A. Herdman, D.Sc., F.R.S. 25 Some Scale-Insects (Coccidse) found in the Isle of Man. By Prof. R. Newstead, F.R.S 63 The Nest of the Bank Vole. By George Ellison . 65 Note on a White Orkney Vole. By George Ellison 67 Some Notes on the Rats of the Port of Liverpool. By J. W. Cutmore 68 Report on the Investigations carried on during 1918, in connection with the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Laboratory, at the University of Liverpool, and the Sea-Fish Hatchery at Piel, near Barrow. By Prof. W. A. Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S. , Andrew Scott, A.L.S., and James Johnstone, D.Sc. 71 Pearl-like Concretions in Tripe. By James Johnstone, D.Sc J 56 PROCEEDINGS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY : OFFICE-BEAKEKS AND COUNCIL 1886—1887 Prof. W. MITCHELL BANKS, M.D., F.R.C.S 1887—1888 J. J. DRYSDALE, M.D. 1888—1889 Prof. W. A. HERDMAN, D.Sc., F.R.S.E. 1889—1890 Prof. W. A. HERDMAN, D.Sc, F.R.S.E. 1890—1891 T. J. MOORE, C.M.Z.S. 1891—1892 T. J. MOORE. C.M.Z.S. 1892—1893 ALFRED 0. WALKER. J. P., F.L.S. 1893—1894 JOHN NEWTON, M.R.C.S. 1894—1895 Prof. F. GOTCH, M.A., F.R.S. 1895—1896 Prof. R. J. HARVEY GIBSON, M.A. 1896—1897 HENRY 0. FORBES, LL.L\, F.Z.S. 1897—1898 ISAAC C. THOMPSON, F.L.S., F.R.M.S, 1898—1899 Prof. C. S. SHERRINGTON, M.D., F.R.S. 1899—1900 J. WIGLESWORTH, M.D., F.R.C.P. 1900—1901 Prof. PATERSON, M.D., M.R.C.S. 1901—1902 HENRY C. BEASLEY. 1902—1903 R. CATON, M.D., F.R.C.P. 1903—1904 Rev. T. S. LEA, M.A. 1904—1905 ALFRED LEICESTER. 1905—1906 JOSEPH LOMAS, F.G.S. 1906—1907 Prof. W. A. HERDMAN, D.Sc, F.R.S. 1907—1908 W. T. HAYDON, F.L.S. 1908—1909 Prof. B. MOORE, M.A., D.Sc. 1909—1910 R. NEWSTEAD, M.Sc., F.E.S. 1910—1911 Prof. R. NEWSTEAD, M.Sc, F.R.S. 1911—1912 J. H. O'CONNELL, L.R.C.P. 1912—1913 JAMES JOHNSTONE, D.Sc 1913—1914 C. J. MACALISTER, M.D., F.R.C.P. 1914—1915 Prof. J. W. W. STEPHENS, M.D., D.P.H. 1915-1916 Prof. ERNEST GLYNN, M.A., M.D. 19J6— 1917 Prof. J. S. MACDONALD, L.R.C.P, F.R.S. 1917—1918 JOSEPH A. CLUBB, D.Sc SESSION XXXIII, 1918-1919. IJrestbent: Prof. W. RAMSDEN, M.A., D.M. ©tcc-^rcstbcnts JOSEPH A. CLUBB, D.Sc Prof. W. A. HERDMAN, D.Sc, F.R.S. ion. Creasurer: |p0tt. Cibrarian : " W. J. HALLS. MAY ALLEN, B.A. Han, Secret art;: W. RIMMER TEARE, A.C.P. Council: R. C. BAMBER, M.Sc (Miss). Prof. J. S. MACDONALD, B.A., J. W. CUTMORE. F.R.S. G. ELLISON. Prof. II. NEWSTEAD, M.Sc, F.R.S, W. T. HAYDON, P.L.S. Prof. J. W. W. STEPHEN'S. M.D. J. JOHNSTONE, D.Sc. EDWIN THOMPSON. W. S. LAVEROCK, M.A., B.So. EDWARD WHITLEY Mrs. GORDON WILSON , Itepreseiitative of' Stuc^enl6 Section : ,1. G. HAMILTON. B.Sc. — VUi LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. REPORT of the COUNCIL. During the Session 1918-19 there have been seven ordinary evening meetings. The field meeting, arranged for June 28th, had to be abandoned as a visit to Hilbre Island, in the weather then prevailing, was quite impossible. On the invitation of Dr. Clubb a visit to the Museum was substituted. The communications made to the Society at the ordinary meetings have been representative of many branches of Biology, and the various exhibitions and demonstrations thereon have been of great interest. The meeting on Feb. 14th was held in conjunction with the Students' Branch and Prof. Herdman gave a lecture on " The Iguanodons of Bernissart." Owing to the difficulties created by the war it was impossible to secure a visiting lecturer, but the President filled the gap with a most interesting paper on " Vitamines in our Food." The Library continues to make satisfactory progress, and additional important exchanges have been arranged. The Treasurer's statement and balance sheet are appended. The members at present on the roll are as follows : Ordinary members 44 Associate members ... 13 Student members, including Students' Section, about 30 Total 87 ; SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS. IX SUMMARY of PROCEEDINGS at the MEETINGS. The first meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, October 18th, 1918. In the unavoidable absence of Prof. Ramsden, the Retiring- President (Joseph A. Clnbb, D.Sc.) took the chair in the Zoology Theatre, during the earlier part of the proceedings. 1. The Report of the Council on the Session 1917-1918 (see " Proceedings," Vol. XXXII, p. viii) was submitted and adopted. 2. The Treasurer's Balance Sheet for the Session 1917-1918 " (see Proceedings," Vol. XXXII, p. xvi) was submitted and approved. 3. The following Office-bearers and Council for the ensuing- Session were elected : —Vice-Presidents, Joseph A. Clubb, D.Sc, Prof. Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S. ; Hon. Treasurer, W. J. Halls ; Hon. Librarian, May Allen, B. A. Hon. Secretary, W. Rimmer Teare, A.C.P. ;. Council, R. C. Bamber, M.Sc (Miss), J. W. Cutmore, G. Ellison, W. T. Haydon, F.L.S., J. Johnstone, D.Sc, W. S. Laverock, M.A., B.Sc, Prof. J. S. Macdonald, F.R.S., Prof. R. Newstead, M.Sc, F.R.S. , Prof. J. W. W. Stephens, M.D., Edwin Thompson, C.C., Edward Whitley and Mrs. Gordon Wilson. 4. Prof. Ramsden delivered the Presidential Address on " " Surface Films (see Transactions, p. 3). A vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Caton, seconded by Prof. Macdonald, was passed. X LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. The second meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, November 8th, 1918. The President in the chair. 1. In the regrettable absence, through illness, of Prof. Herdman, Miss Bamber read the Annual Report which he had prepared on the work of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, and also the paper " On Periodic Change in Nature" (see Transactions, p. 39). The third meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, December 13th, 1918. The Presi- dent in the chair. 1. Prof. Herdman exhibited and made remarks upon a Campodea found in the Strawberry. 2. Prof. Newstead gave an account of Scale Insects generally with special details of specimens found in the Isle of Man (see Transactions, p. 63). Miss Alwyn Evans contributed supplementary remarks to both papers. The fourth meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, January 10th, 1919. The President in the chair. 1. Mr. Gr. Ellison exhibited, with remarks, some nests which he considered were those of the Bank Vole (see Trans., p. 65). 2. Mr. J. W. Cutmore exhibited and discussed specimens of the various types of rat found in the Port of Liverpool (see Trans., p. 68). SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS. XI of the nature of a pearl found in the stomach wall of a cow (see Trans., p. 156). The fifth meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, February 14th, 1919, in conjunction with, and by invitation of, the Students' Section, the President of which, Miss C. M. Jarvis, occupied the chair. 1. Prof. Herdman gave an illustrated lecture on "The Iguanodons of Bernissart in the Brussels Museum," and informed his audience that no harm had befallen the specimens during the German occupation. A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was passed on the motion of Dr. Caton, seconded by Mr. Hewitt of the Liverpool Geological Society. The sixth meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, March 14th, 1919. Prof. Herdman occupying the chair in the absence of the President. 1. Dr. Johnstone submitted the Annual Report of the Investigations carried on during 1918 in connection with the Lancashire Sea Fisheries Committee (see "Transactions," p. 71) and added an account of the history and development of British Fisheries. The seventh meeting of the thirty-third session was held at the University, on Friday, May L9th, HMD. The Presidenl in the chair. Xll LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 1. Miss Allen exhibited a copy of Conrad Gresner's " Historia Naturalis Animalium," 1551-1587, and gave details of the life of Gesner. 2. The President gave an interesting and important illustrated address on " Vitamines in our Food." The eighth meeting of the thirty-third session was held on Saturday, June 28th. A visit to Hilbre Island had been arranged, but owing to the inclement weather, this was abandoned, and, on Dr. Clubb's invitation, the members proceeded to the Museum. Here they were shown the prepara- tions for new developments of an educational and popular character, and inspected the rat-breeding cages used by Mr.