NOTES ON MELICERTA RINGENS. 249 



the theory of development. As a complete creative, productive agency, 

 I altogether disbelieve in evolution — as a separator of species, as a 

 destroyer of thousands of forms that cannot all hve, and so as a probable 

 selector of what shall survive out of the million possible products of 

 God's higher creative, productive laws, whatever those laws are, I accept 

 and beheve in the theory which is known by this name, but no further 

 can I trust or follow those who trust and follow it, and amongst other 

 reasons because Melicerta rimjens and its suitable male will not allow me 

 to do so. 



NATUEALIST FIELD CLUB EXCUESIONS. 



BY THE REV. J. D. LA TOUCHE, B.A., 



PRESIDENT OF THE CAKADOC FIELD CLUB. 



Field Clubs are now in full work. Long days, sunny weather, nature 

 clothed in bright and varied hues, all combine to call forth those whose 

 souls are stirred with any higher aims than to follow the mill round of 

 daily work and add to their daily store ; all invite us to come forth 

 from desk and study, from workshop and counter, to explore the marvels 

 which a good Creator has prepared to instruct and cheer and elevate our 

 souls. It may, therefore, be not unsuitable at such a time to consider a 

 few of the objects which we place before us in our excursions, with a view 

 to rendering them more useful for their professed purpose. And first, I 

 would remark that Field Clubs are apt to err in two opposite directions 

 in either proposing too much for themselves or too little. With the 

 model before them of the British Association and other great societies, 

 of which the members are the primates and leaders in scientific research, 

 they are, especially on starting, inclined to fancy that they can in 

 some way emulate the proceedings of these learned bodies. Accordingly 

 the work they cut out is often on too extensive and ambitious a scale, and 

 in a short time breaks down. I have been present at the inaugural 

 meetings of such societies when the elaborate rules and bye-laws adopted 

 contemplated a scale of operations which it was manifestly impossible 

 could ever be attained. And this soaring ambition, the not unnatural 

 ambition of eai'ly youth, is veiy apt in more mature years to relapse into 

 the opposite extreme, when serious effort is virtually abandoned, and the 

 so called Naturalist excursion becomes a mere pic-nic, pleasant and 

 useful enough in its way, but having little relation to the objects for 

 which the club was started. Nor should it be overlooked that this 

 dilettante kind of work brings science into contempt, and not unfrequently 

 have kind critics suggested a comparison between the proceedings of the 

 Field Club and those of the immortal Pickwick and his friends. 



If these societies are to attain what their naembera would desire, if 

 they are to add anything to the stores of science, their aim must be more 

 modest, practical, and definite. First, with respect to the work cut out 

 for the excursions. It is not often that this can be of the thorough and 

 laborious natm'e which individuals or very small parties can undertake. 



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