Wellington Philosophical Society. i 597 
remarkable feature in regard to this comet, that it had approached more closely to the 
sun than any comet on record, except perhaps that of 1843, and that astronomers were of 
opinion that it was following very closely the orbit of that comet, if not identical with it. 
7. Among the objects exhibited to the meeting were two salt-water fishes, Dajus 
forsteri (green mullet), and Retropinna osmeroides (New Zealand smelt), taken with the fly 
in the Hutt River, about three miles from the mouth, by Mr. Howard. 
Eiento Meetine. 9th December, 1882. 
W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 
New Member.—J. R. Blair. 
1. ** Additions to the Flora of New Zealand," by J. Buchanan, F.L.8. 
(Transactions, p. 889.) 
The three plants described were collected by Mr. H. H. Travers in the Collingwood 
district. 
2. “ On Ancient Science," by the Rev. T. Le Menant des Chesnais. 
RACT. 
The object of this paper was to show the origin and progress of science from the 
earliest times. Science was largely cultivated, and civilization much advanced before the 
flood. Antediluvian men were acquainted with agriculture, astronomy, mineralogy, and 
poetry. Chaldea was the cradle of scientific investigation. Astronomy, gp archi- 
tecture, and navigation flourished there. The discoveries lately m 80 
described by Botta and Layard show how, from the most remote sce Phasen: culti- 
vated science. The Jews cultivated natural science, poetry, music, agriculture; but their 
knowledge of exact science was limited. Greece was always a scientific nation. The 
ancient Greek philosophers treated admirably many questions on the nature of man and 
animals, and explained accurately several important phenomena. Sculpture, painting, 
music, architecture, astronomy, etc., at all times highly esteemed by the Greeks. 
Amon men who most uud: to scientific progress at Greece, we must not 
forget Aristotle and the great men of the school of Alexandria. The Romans adopted 
the ways and manners of the nations they had conquered. They encouraged foreign arts 
and scientific men, but produced none. Even the works of Pliny cannot be styled truly 
scientific; they are a compilation without order or taste, an imperfect encyclopedia. 
The President complimented the author on the manner in which he had dealt with 
the subject, which he felt sure was highly interesting to those present, 
he paper was read M. des Chesnais exhibited a beautiful series of photographs 
illustrative of the subjects on which he had treated. 
8. “ Description of a new Species of ZEolis," by T. W. Kirk. (Transac- 
tions, p. 217.) 
4. “Description of a new Dipterous Insect,” by G. Vernon Hudson ; 
communicated by T. W. Kirk. (Transactions, p. 218.) 
Ninta Meetine. 8rd February, 1888. 
W. T. L. Travers, F.L.8., President, in the chair. 
New Member,—W, A. Gardner. 
