408 Proceedings. 
Without attempting to undertake such a review as the one suggested, I 
take the more humble and less pretentious course of recalling that which must 
be in the recollection of those whom I address, and content myself, in the first 
instance, with the mere recapitulation of the titles of the papers read before the 
society. A dry enumeration of these, as showing what questions have been 
discussed and the direction which our enquiries have taken, may be not 
altogether without its use, as it will furnish, in a compendious form, a list/of 
the subjects which have lately been engaging our attention, quite apart from 
the consideration as to how far they have advanced the cause which we desire 
to promote. The following is a list of the papers which have been read during 
the last session :—1. “Darwin’s Provisional Hypothesis of Pangenesis,” by 
Dr. Barker ; 2. * On the Size and Weight of the Smallest Particles Visible to 
the Highest Powers of the Microscope," by Dr. Powell; 3. ** On Seven Species 
of Spiders of the Genus Salticus, probably New to Science,” by Dr. Powell ; 
4. * On the Stridulating Organs of the Cicada,” by Dr. Powell; 5. * Notes on 
New Zealand Birds," by Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen; 6. “On some 
Undescribed New Zealand Fishes,” by Dr. Haast ; 7. “On the Practical Uses 
of an Observatory," by W. M. Maskell; 8. * Remarks on the Coleoptera of 
Canterbury, New Zealand," by C. M. Wakefield; 9. “On Phalacrocorax 
punctatus (Spotted Shag)," by T. H. Potts; 10. * Notes on the Birds of New 
Zealand," by T. H. Potts; 11. *Apterygidz," by T. H. Potts; 12. “ Оһ the 
Direct Injuries to Vegetation in New Zealand by various Insects, especially 
with reference to Larve of Moths and Beetles feeding upon the field crops, and 
the Expedieney of Introducing Insectivorous Birds as a Remedy," by R. W. 
Fereday. 
The mere enumeration of the papers contained in this list, if it does 
nothing else, must make us experience a feeling of satisfaction, not only at the 
intellectual activity which it discloses as existing amongst us, but also at the 
fact which it establishes that this society has been made the depository of the 
instruction and information thereby afforded. A large portion of these papers 
is devoted to the elucidation of questions which are more especially the 
province of a local society, such as this—to the discovery of those truths, and 
the unveiling of those mysteries which surround us here. It appears to me 
that this also is a subject of congratulation. Not, indeed, that I desire to see 
our attention directed exclusively to matters of local import, to the entire or _ 
even partial neglect of those larger truths, or of those universal principles 
which apply equally, whether on this side of the globe or on the other. Unless 
we fortify ourselves by the study of these—unless we availourselves of the 
accumulated learning of other countries, and of other times —we shall never 
rightly understand the objects which present themselves to us here. But, 
besides and beyond those general truths which apply everywhere, each country 
