Wellington Philosoijhical Society. 699 



other insects. The making-known the life-history of those pests was of 

 the greatest value. 



Mr. Harding thought that the Agricultural Department would become 

 an accomplished fact. 



Sir J. Hector said that Mr. Maskell deserved the thanks of the 

 Society for having contributed such a valuable paper. He thought, with 

 regard to the establishment of an Agricultural Department, it was neces- 

 sary that some more definite scheme should be decided on, and more in- 

 formation provided, before a department of this kind could be formed. 

 It was not quite such a simple matter as might be supposed. It required 

 to be carefully thought out. In the meantime the Government were 

 doing all they could in the matter. He hoped Mr. Maskell would still 

 continue his valuable work on these insects, especially that part bearing 

 on the economic branch of the study. 



Mr. Maskell did not wish what he had said to refer specially to what 

 he had himself done in this particular branch of scientific research. He 

 referred generally to the small amount of interest taken in this important 

 work. 



2. "Further Notes and Observations on Certain Species of 

 New Zealand Birds," by Sir Walter Buller, K.C.M.G., F.E.S. 



{Transactions, p. 75.) 



The author exhibited several handsome specimens. 



Mr. Travers agreed with Sir Walter Buller that many of our rare 

 birds were fast disappearing. He said that the introduced ferrets, &c., 

 were in a great measure the cause ; they were destroying the domestic 

 fowls, and had to be killed as vermin. 



Mr. Phillips said that if the ferrets were vermin, and there were no 

 rabbits, they should certainly be destroyed ; but that they had been most 

 useful in getting rid of the rabbits was most certain. 



Sir Walter Buller said we had far better never have introduced such 

 animals ; the rabbits would have died out, or could have been otherwise 

 destroyed, but we should find it difficult to get rid of the ferrets. 



Eighth Meeting : 11th November, 1891. 



The Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, F.G.S., in the chair. 



Pcqjer.— "On Moth-destruction," by Coleman Phillips. 

 {Transactions, p. 630.) 



The author exhibited a lantern and fittings by which it was pro- 

 posed to catch the moths in large quantities. 



Sir James Hector said that Mr. Phillips had certainly done good 

 work in pointing out a simple and effectual way of getting rid ofthese 

 insects that are so destructive in our gardens and fields of crops ; jt was 

 the first time, as far as he knew, that the lantern had been used in a 

 practical way for this object. He did not think any useful insects would 

 be destroyed. 



Mr. Hudson agreed that the lantern idea was novel for the purpose 

 of destroying moths on such a large scale. He was afraid it would not 

 reach the worst kind of pests, which he thought were the slugs. The 

 wireworm referred to was not a moth, and its beetle had no wings ; the 

 lantern would, however, attract some of the wood-boring beetles with 

 wings. He did not think we had the wireworm in New Zealand. 



