INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 19 



contribution to science which has been made for New 

 Zealand. But the study of the bones of the birds alone 

 — often fragments — will not satisfy the requirements of 

 the biologist who desires to trace their structural affinity, 

 and to trace the steps in the history of their evolution. It 

 is therefore a matter for congratulation that Professor 

 Parker has taken up the subject of the minute anatomy 

 and embryology of the allied genus, the Apteryx or kiwi, 

 which has, fortunately, as yet, escaped extermination. 



Further close and extended study, especially, of our 

 marine fauna is urgently required. We have little know- 

 ledge beyond the littoral zone, except when a great storm 

 heaves up a gathering of nondescript or rare treasui'cs from 

 the deep. Of dredging we have had but little done, and 

 only in shallow Avaters, with the exception of a few casts of 

 the deep-sea trawl from the " Challenger." When funds 

 permit, a zoological station for the study of the habits of 

 our sea fishes, and for the propagation of such edible spe- 

 cies as the lobster and crab, would be advantageous. I ob- 

 serve that lately such an establishment has been placed on 

 the Island of Mull, in Scotland, at a cost of .€400, and that 

 it is expected to be nearly self-supporting. With respect 

 to food fishes, and still more Avith respect to some terrestrial 

 forms of life, we, in common with all the Australasian 

 Colonies, require a more scientific and a less casual system 

 of acclimatisation than we have had in the past. One 

 must talk with 'bated breath of the injuries that have been 

 inflicted on these colonies by the rash disturbance of the 

 balance of nature. Had our enthusiasm been properly 

 controlled by foresight, our settlers Avould prol)al)ly not 

 have to grieve over the losses they now suffer through 

 many imported pests, through small birds and rabbits, and 

 which they will iu the future suffer through the vermin 

 that are now being spread in all directions. 



Speaking of geology, I may say that the early explorers 

 seem to have had only the most vague ideas of the geology 

 of the countries they explored. Indeed, the whole science 

 may be said to have been almost entirely developed during 

 the last fifty years -, and this is very natural, as it is perhaps 



