MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 359 
make proper provision for their preservation. The herbarium in 
the Colonial Museum, which, I believe, is under their control, is at 
present, and has been for years, in a disgraceful condition. 
Valuable and even unique specimens lie an open prey to all kinds 
of insects, and many specimens of the highest scientific value have 
mysteriously disappeared. In the management of this part of 
the Institute’s duties there is room for radical reform. 
Of the other departments of natural history—the birds, 
reptiles, crustaceans, and mollusca alone have been worked out 
with anything like accuracy and completeness. It is greatly to 
be desired that the description and classification of the insects 
and spiders, and the rest of our rich invertebrate fauna should 
be taken in hand. There are many persons in the Colony who 
take a keen interest in the study of these forms of life, and fairly 
complete collections of material could soon be got together if 
provision were made for their description by competent authori- 
ties. It is not to be expected that all these matters can be pro- 
secuted at one time, but I submit that the managers of the New 
Zealand Institute, or an association of private workers in this 
domain, should arrange and make public a plan for the gradual 
accomplishment of the scientific work here contemplated, and 
take steps to secure from the Government means for carrying it 
out by instalments. In the meantime the necessary collections 
could be made, and brought together at the Colonial Museum, 
or other suitable centre, for transmission to great European or 
American specialists as might be selected to describe and classify 
them. It would no doubt be better if this work could be done in 
the Colony, but we have neither the libraries nor the collec- 
tions necessary for a proper performance of the task. In 
no great number of years a small annual vote would suffice, 
with good arrangements, for such a breaking and clearing 
of the ground as would enable local scientific workers to 
carry on and complete the investigation of our fauna. Is 
iecoe much to expect a vote of £500, or £600 a year for 
this purpose? If a well-considered plan were agreed on 
amongst friends of science in the Colony, and if they would 
unite in pressing its claims on the notice of the Government, I 
believe that no great difficulty would be experienced in obtaining 
the modest annual pittance desired. We already spend con- 
siderable sums in carrying on the far less important work of a 
geological survey, and in making forecasts of the weather that 
are of no use in the world either to the shipping or to the 
agricultural interest. If we can afford these national scientific 
luxuries, surely the support of a rational scheme for the gradual 
exploration of our fauna is not beyond our means. 
“T have now touched on most of the topics to which I desired 
to direct attention. If the suggestions offered commend them- 
selves in the main to your approval and gain your support, my 
object in bringing thein before you will have been fully met. It 
is not to be expected that the public authorities will undertake 
