Wellington Philosophical Society. 559 



named " brill," about one-fortieth its adult Bizo : this is a most valuable 

 fish. (3.) The lemon sole, wrongly named "flounder," about one- 

 twentieth adult size. (4.) The New Zealand sole, but a very young 

 specimen, about one-twentieth adult size. 



Letter from Professor Newton, of Magdalen College, 

 Cambridge, addressed to Sir Walter Buller, at whose request 

 it was read by Mr. Travers : — 



I have received from New Zealand the report of the Surveyor- 

 General for 1897-99, which contains some interesting particulars as to 

 the preservation of birds in the islands lying off the coast. But it seems 

 to me that there is some danger of these islands being overstocked, for as 

 many kakapos, kiwis, and others as can be got seem to be turned out ; 

 and overstocking would be sure to produce many evils. I do not like 

 reading that on one of the islands hawks, which have come over from the 

 mainland, have been destroyed because they naturally preyed upon the 

 introduced birds ! Now, I feel pretty sure that the presence of the hawks 

 would be the best safeguard against one at least of the mischiefs to be 

 expected from overstocking — that is, the outbreak of some disease which 

 might carry off a large proportion of the bird population which it is de- 

 sired to encourage. 



When we begin to interfere with the workings of nature we cannot 

 be too careful, for we really know so little about them that something 

 unexpected is almost sure to turn up. Bacon said we can only conquer 

 nature by obeying her, and it is certainly not in accordance with her 

 laws to abolish the checks that she has instituted. 



Far be it from me to say what ought to be done in circumstances of 

 which I am so very ignorant. I would only ask you, if you have the 

 opportunity, to put the people concerned on their guard as to what may 

 come to pass in this matter. 



I am rather sorry to see that there is an acclimatisation sooiety still in 

 full swing. I look with grave suspicion upon all the doings of accli- 

 matisers, though after rabbit and sparrow experience perhaps they have 

 grown a little wiser. I notice, too, that on one of the inlands pigs (feral, 

 I presume) are spoken of as existing. They would be the great enemies 

 of all birds that breed en the ground ; and, indeed, I quite believe that 

 it was the wild hogs that extirpated the dodo in Mauritius. I well know 

 how hard it is to persuade people, even in this country, that such birds as 

 hawks have their use, not only farmers, gamekeepers, and the like, but 

 even men who have some knowledge of natural history— and actually 

 bird- protectors ! Thus the local association for protecting the birds of 

 the Faroe Islands destroys, or a year ago did destroy, the great black- 

 backed gulls because they took the eggs and perhaps the young of the 

 other birds, wholly forgetful of the fact that for untold ages these birds 

 bad managed to get along very well notwithstanding the existence of the 

 "plunderers," and that it was only when "cheap trippers" and so- 

 called naturalists began to multiply that the numbers of other birds began 

 to dwindle. 



Annual Meeting: 12th March, 1901. 



Mr. G. V. Hudson, President, in the chair. 



New Members. — Mrs. Longton, Hon. G. F. Richardson, 

 Mr. C. H. Weyergang, and Mr. E. G. Brown. 



