408 Proceedings. 



Without attempting to xmdertake 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 Zealtind Birds," by Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen; 6. "On some 

 Undescribed New Zealtind 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 

 -punotatus (Sj)otted Shag)," by T. H. Potts ; 10. " Notes on the Birds of New 

 Zealand," by T. H. Potts; 11. " Apterygidse," by T. H. Potts ; 12. " On the 

 Direct Injuries to Vegetation in New Zealand by various Insects, especially 

 with reference to. Larvse of Moths and Beetles feeding upon the field crops, and 

 the Expediency of Introducing Insectivorous Birds as a Bemedy," 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, nob 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, Avhether on this side of the globe or on the other. Unless 

 we fortify ourselves by the study of these — unless we avail ourselves 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 



