18 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
cI 
“ Tyansactions,” that it is quite time that the whole was consolidated in 
the form of a new Handbook. Altogether some 48 species of flowering 
plants and a considerable number of cryptograms are here described for 
the first time by Messrs. Kirk, Colenso, Petrie, Cheeseman and 
Buchanan. How many of these will stand the test of further and 
fuller criticism and examination remains to be seen. There seems to be 
a tendency among our botanists to too much species-making. On a 
former occasion we criticised adversely the prolix descriptions of Mr. 
Colenso’s species ; on this occasion we would take exception to what we 
consider an error of Mr. Kirk’s, that namely of advancing several new 
species (e.g. in his paper “On the flowering plants of Stewart Island ”) 
without any definite description at all. Suppose any other botanist 
were to obtain specimens of the plants named Cotula tratlhi, Raoulia 
goyeni, Dracophyllum pearsonit or Danthonia crasstuscula, and were to 
publish full descriptions under other names, to which names would 
priority attach ? 
We are glad to see Capt. Hutton’s name again to the front in the 
geological section, and think it is a pity that more attention is not being 
paid to this most important branch of science in this colony. His 
papers are On the age of the Orakei Bay beds near Auckland,” and 
‘‘ Descriptions of new Tertiary shells.” A discussion of the geological 
structure of the Southern Alps by Drs. von Haast and Hector, and a 
a paper by Mr. W. Wells “On the drift beds of ae "are the 
other chief contributions in this line. F 
In regard to the Miscellaneous papeis, we think all might well 
have been omitted with the exception of the “ Description of Mayor 
Island,” and a short one on “ Cat’s-Eye Bay.” Mr. Meeson’s paper on 
‘““ Recent Sun-glows,” those of Mr. Ringwood on “ Red Sunsets,” of Mr. 
C. W. Purnell “ On a system of Technical Education,” and of Mr. Jas. 
Stewart “ On the establishment of a Grand Hotel and Sanatorium in 
the Rotorua District,” are no doubt excellent enough papers of their kind. 
But they are of no permanent value and therefore should never have 
been printed in the “ Transactions.” With regard to Dr. Bakewell’s 
paper entitled ‘ Is Life a distinct force,” we would like to know,—only 
it is not probable that our wish will be satisfied,—whether the Editor 
read it before having it printed? And if he did, was he any wiser after 
its perusal? But perhaps after all he is not to blame for such a paper 
appearing ; the Society before which it was read should have exercised 
its power of rejecting unsuitable communications, and for the sake both 
of author and readers should have consigned it to oblivion. 
The usual report, Proceedings and appendices complete the volume. 
Some of the papers mentioned in the ‘‘ Proceedings” would apparently 
have been much more suitable for the “Transactions” than those 
objected to. Such are Dr. Buller’s address to the Wellington Philo- 
sophical Society on the disappearance of the Maoris, Capt. Broun’s 
papers on new Coleoptera, and Mr. Cheeseman’s “ Notes on the Fertili- 
zation of certain New Zealand plants,” presuming of course that the 
latter papers were submitted for publication. On the whole we are — 
inclined to think that in spite of the good advice and wholesome — 
criticism which have been expended on the management of the New 
Zealand Institute there never has been a volume of “ Transactions ” 
issued, in which there is preserved such a large proportion of unsuitable 
papers, 
