490 Proceedings. 



otherwise would have found its way into our Transactions. In the case 

 of anthropology, the excellent Polynesian Journal has published niucli 

 which otherwise would have come before^ our Institute. 



A consideration of the statistics given above shows clearly that natural 

 history, using that term in a broad sense, fills the greater part of the 

 volumes. This was to be expected in a new land with both the fauna and 

 the flora so little investigated and containing so much that is endemic. 

 Also, if the papers on zoology and botany be referred to, it will be seen 

 that by far the greater part are devoted to classification. This must have 

 been so ; it is the natural e^•olutionary process in the history of biological 

 research the world over. But even in New Zealand this stage is passing 

 away, and in botany the ecological study of the vegetation as opj^osed to 

 the floristic study of the species is making headway, and is even being 

 applied to economic ends— another step in the evolution of a science. So, 

 too, in zoology, animal ecology, a more difficult study, is also coming to 

 the fore. Botany with its 654 papeis apparently makes a poor showing 

 alongside zoology with its 1,143 contributions. It must be remembered, 

 however, that there are many groups of animals, and frequently a workei- 

 confines himself to one group. Also, a considerable number of papers deal 

 with birds, a subject in which so many people take an interest who really 

 care little for science as a whole. As for chemistry and physics, which 

 make but a poor showing in the work of the New Zealand Institute, it must 

 be pointed out that little progress (;an be made in these sciences without 

 well-equipped chemical and physical laboratories and men specially trained 

 in such. Laboratories of this class are now attached to the various 

 University colleges, and chemical and physical contributions — the work of 

 trained students — are slowly but surely finding a jjlace in the Transactions. 



The Transactions have not been the sole publication of the Institute, 

 by any means. Thus there are the magnificent volumes of Hamilton's 

 Maori Art ; Major Broun's Manual of the Coleopera and his three bulletins 

 on the same group ; H. N. Dixon's Studies in the Bryology of New Zealaiid 

 — an important revision of our moss-flora ; and Tregear's Manc/arera 

 Dictionary. Then, the Canterbury branch of the Institute has published 

 the Index Faunae Novae-Zeakonliae, and the admii-able Suhantarctic Islands- 

 of New Zealand, a work in two quarto volumes witli man}' beautiful 

 illustrations 



The New Zealand Institute has control of tlie Hutton and the Hector 

 Memorial Funds. With regard to the former a bronze medal is awarded 

 every three years for origin;d research in New Zealand zoology, botany, 

 or geology. There is also a small income from the fund, from which grants- 

 are made for purposes of research. The Hector Fimd also supplies a medal. 

 but with this goes the yearly interest of the fund — some £45— as a prize. 

 Medal and prize are alloted yeaily, but each year to a difterent science. 

 six sciences being included. Thus the medal for any particular science 

 is awarded only every six years. Three Hutton and seven Hector medals 

 have been awarded up to the present time. These medals have already 

 done a good deal to stimulate^ research ; as }'ear succeeds year the value of 

 these awards will greatly increase. 



The influence of the New Zealand Institute has been very considerable 

 on New Zealand science other tlum tliat under its actual control. There 

 is no Government Department connected in any way with science \\hicii 

 is not constantly indebted either to the ])ublications or libraries of tlif 

 Institute. The following important works would never have appeared 



