Wellington Philosophical Society. 649 



has been found very helpful in classifying plants and animals, 

 whether truly or not is still uncertain. Possibly in course of 

 time the evidence may become so strong and consistent that 

 we may be justified in looking on this hypothesis as a fact ; we 

 may even get so far as to learn under what conditions in the 

 past the great variations in type forming new species and 

 genera have occurred. 



But what I wish to bring before this meeting is that at 

 present w^e have no such certainties. We have only theories 

 and probabilities in regard to evolution, and w^e are not 

 justified in speaking of evolution, or modes of evolution, as if 

 they were ascertained facts. Moreover, were the hypothesis 

 of evolution established as a fact it would in no way alter or 

 lessen the essential logical necessity for an efficient first cause 

 and continuous energy. 



May I be permitted, in conclusion, to express my regret that 

 we English, whose language is now more widely used than any 

 other in the world, should have chosen not to use it in our 

 scientific nomenclature ? The Germans have been more 

 happy — they use their own language instead of a contorted 

 Latin or Greek. For instance, in Insektenkunde, or insect- 

 knowledge (entomology), Coleoptera are Deckfliigler or Shield- 

 wings ; Hymenoptera, Hautfliigler or Skinwings ; Lepidoptera, 

 Schuppenfliigler or Scalewings ; Neuroptera, Netzfliigler or 

 Lacewings ; Orthoptera, Geradfliigier or Straight-wings ; 

 Hemiptera, Halbfliigier or Half-wings. I am afraid it is too 

 late to attempt a change now, but if it could be done it would 

 be a great blessing to the rising generation — almost as great a 

 blessing as the adoption of a decimal system of weights, 

 measures, and money, vrhich we have hoped for so long, but 

 which seems as far off as ever. 



I am well aware that in alluding as I have done to the theory 

 of evolution I have, as it were, thrown down the gauntlet and 

 opened the door to criticism and discussion. Evolution at 

 present may be said to be in the air, like Home Eule and 

 the great Labour-and-capital question, and people hold very 

 different views on such subjects. But discussion is always 

 interesting, and very often the discussion which follows a paper 

 is much more valuable than the paper which gave rise to the 

 discussion, as the latter brings out many thoughts of many 

 minds. I hope, therefore, that my address may prove fruitful 

 in discussion, and in other papers. 



Sir James Hector moved a vote of thanks to the President for his 

 most interesting and suggestive address. It opened up a number of dis- 

 puted questions which would cause a most interesting controversy, and 

 would, he thought, be the means of bringing forward a number of inter- 

 esting papers from some of the members durmg this session. 



Mr. T. Kirk had great pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks. 

 The address was most valuable on account of its suggestiveness. It would 



