TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 83 



Since 1862, the interior of Otago has been explored by the Government Geologi- 

 cal Survey, and the collections made by the botanist attached thereto have largely 

 added to our knowledge of the flora, more especially of its Alps and great lake 

 basins. 



The author's main object in this memoir, which is confined to the departments 

 of Phcenogams and Ferns, is — taking Otago as the type of the South, and Auckland of 

 the North, Island — to institute a comparison between the floras of these respective 

 provinces or islands. 



The subject matter is stated in great measure tabularly and statistically as follows : 



A. Difference?. 



Group 1. Enumeration of Natural Orders occurring in North Island, but not 



in Otago 22 



2. Enumeration of Genera occurring in North Island, but not in Otago 91 



3. Enumeration of Genera occurring in Otago, but not in North Island 10 



B. Resemblances. 

 Group 1. Enumeration of Natural Orders common to North Island and Otago 67 



2. Enumeration of Genera common to North Island and Otago .... 215 



3. Enumeration of Species common to North Island and Otago .... 581 



C. Preponderance in favour of North Island. 



Natural Orders 22 



Genera 70 



Species 134 



Characteristic Northern Genera .... 32 

 „ Southern „ .... 10 



On the Propagation of Ferns by means of Spores. By E. J. Lowe. 



Zoology. 



On the Genus Anceus (Anceus and Praniza, And.). 

 By Spence Bate and Professor Westwood. 

 After giving the history of this peculiar genus, the authors, while admitting the 

 ability and general correctness of the recent researches of Mr. Hope, disputed his 

 right to give the name of Praniza, which had been previously used as that of an adult 

 animal, as belonging to a larval or young form only. They considered that to 

 Mr. Hope belong the merit of having demonstrated that Praniza was the adult 

 female of Anceus, but they differed from him in believing that the male Anceus ever 

 was a Praniza, and showed that the two sexes passed through separate forms until 

 each arrived at the adult stage ; after which period they lose their parasitical cha- 

 racter. That this change of condition is coeval with important structural alte- 

 rations, by which both males and females lose their oral apparatus, together with 

 stomach and alimentary canal. The mandibles in the male become large prehen- 

 sile organs. 



On the regard due to Usage and Utility, as well as mere Priority infixing 

 Zoological Nomenclature. By P. P. Carpenter, B.A., Ph.D. 



When generic names have come into almost universal use, and are good in them- 

 selves, it would save great confusion to allow them to remain. As in property, a 

 certain number of years' undisputed possession might be regarded as a right. It is 

 hard to give up such because it is discovered that an obscure writer badly named 

 an ill-defined group a short time in advance. The new (so-called old) name might 

 itself have to be displaced when some other antiquary had unhappily disinterred 

 some older and worse book which had been fortunately forgotten. Surely use ia 

 the most complete publication. 



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