136 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
itself to his mind. His hypothesesand theories werenever obtruded 
in a crude undigested form, nor did he ever show strong partizan- 
ship. In advancing an opinion every argument was adduced in 
support of it, but at the same time the weak places were pointed 
out, and all the objections to be urged against it were considered. 
There is a total absence of dogmatic assertion in all his state- 
ments. 
Darwin seemed to be little troubled by all the savage attacks 
which were made against him and his theories. He was con- 
scious in himself of a sincere longing after truth, and had the 
satisfaction of feeling that his work was bearing fruit a hundred- 
fold. His view of life and of the Creator of life was a far grander 
one than any which it subverted, and he has been one of the 
greatest contributors to that freedom of thought which now 
characterizes true men of science. 
In the “Principia” of Isaac Newton, and the “ Origin of 
Species” of Charles Darwin, England has had the honour of 
leading and revolutionising the whole scientific world. 
GEO. M. THOMSON. 
APRIL 22nd, 1882. 
NEW ZEALAND MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.* 
(ABSTRACT.) 
———_<——_—_—_—_. 
The following species of Micro-lepidoptera from New Zealand 
are described by Mr. E. Meyrick in the “ Proceedings of the 
Linnean Society of New South Wales,” vols. 5 and 6 :— 
GENUS SIMAETHIS, Leach. 
Head smooth, with ocelli; tongue strong. Antennz about 
half as long as fore-wings, filiform, ciliated in male. No 
maxillary palpi. Labial palpi moderately long, recurved, second 
joint beneath, with rough scales, often forming a small apical 
projection; terminal joint compressed, rather shorter than 
second, blunt. Fore-wings broadly-triangular, apex somewhat 
produced, hind-margin slightly oblique. Hind-wings broader 
than fore-wings, triangular, cilia short. Abdomen short, stout. 
Legs short, brpadly compressed, tibiz densely scaled. Fore 
wings with 12 veins; no secondary cell; 1 furcate at base. 
Hind-wings with 8 veins; 7 and 8 remote, 3 and 4 sometimes 
stalked or coincident. 
Larva 16-legged, active, living in a web within a drawn- 
* Continued from page 35. 
