102 



■'^'""- LVol. XXXV 



rumpcd God wit. A large proportii")!! of the generic names 

 have been altered ; thus the Silver Gull (Larus) becomes Bntchi- 

 gavia novcc-hollandia. Trinomials have been quite forgotten. 

 A vernacular name is given for each bird, here, again, differing 

 from current names in many cases. The well-known Mutton- 

 bird, or Short-tailed or Sooty Petrel , is now Nconcclris teniti- 

 rosiris instead of Puffin us bfevuiiiuiiis. 



SciENXE IN New Zealand. — In iQib there died at Nelson, 

 New Zealand, Mr. Thomas Cawthorn, a well-known citizen of 

 the town, who left the bulk of his estate for the establishment 

 of a technical institute and museum. Owing to the unrest 

 caused by the war it was not deemed advisable to take any 

 action imtil the present year, when, by the addition of interest, 

 the capital had grown to nearly £"200,000. The scheme has now 

 been set on foot, and temporary premises have been secured. 

 A director, Prof. T. H. Easterfield, M.A., Ph.D.. has been 

 appointed, with a staf^ consisting of a biologist, assistant 

 entomologist, agricultural chemist, assistant chemist, and a 

 lady. Miss K. M. Curtis, M.A., D.Sc, as mycologist. Work will be 

 undertaken in connection with insect pests, fungus diseases, and 

 in other directions to stimulate production, not only in Nelson, 

 l)ut in the whole of the Dominion. Here is an example which 

 might McU be followed in other centres. 



The Longevity of Cut Flowers. — An interesting record of 

 experiments made in this direction appears in a paper by Miss 

 Kliinor Archer, M.Sc, in the Proc. Royal Society of Vidorid, 

 vol. xxxii. (new series), part 2 (issued September, 1920). The 

 popular idea of immersing the stems in boiling water was found 

 to be of no use. Experiments suggested that a gummy 

 exudation which blocks up the vessels in the stems is mainly 

 the cause of the withering. Solutions capable of dissolving 

 the exudation were experimented with, and the conclusion 

 arrived at that a i per cent, solution of lead nitrate is likely 

 to b{! of most service as a preservative of cut flowers. Reports 

 from members on this question would be- apj)reciated. 



'• The Physiography and Geology of the Bulla-Syden- 

 ham Area." Such is the title of a very instructive paper by 

 Mr. Albert V. G. James, B.A., M.Sc, in the Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society of ]'ictoria, vol. xxxii. (n. s.). part 2 (issued 

 SeptemlHT, 1920). The paper is illustrated iiy plates, and a 

 map which d( tails an area of 20 square miles, and will be foimd 

 extremely useful to anyone; <le.siring to investigate th(; area. 

 The well-known " organ pipes " on Jackson's Cnrek are situated 

 within the area dealt with. A variety of geological formations 

 occur, ba.salt being the dominant feature;. At a spot on the 

 ^Maribyrnong River, a little alx>ve the junction of Jackson's 

 Creek, ?2ucalyptus leaf beds are noted. 



