1920 .] 
University and Scientific News. 
123 
and the large and rapidly increasing body of students there is promise 
that the University will continue to serve the country in the future no 
less worthily than it has done in the half-century that has just closed. 
Wellington Philosophical Society. 
Natural History and Field Club Section. 
t 
History and Inception. — Early in the year 1915 a Field Naturalists Club 
was formed by local enthusiasts, presided over by Dr. L. Cockayne, and 
many successful meetings and lectures were held during two summer 
sessions. Chiefly owing to the European War, however, these 1 meetings 
had to be discontinued in March, 1916. 
On the termination of hostilities it was felt that these meetings and 
excursions had been the means of bringing together many persons interested 
in natural history, and it was desirable that the club should be revived. 
Dr. J. A. Thomson, Director of the Dominion Museum, made the first 
move by proposing at an extraordinary meeting of the Wellington Philo¬ 
sophical Society that a Natural History and Field Club Section of the 
society be formed. 
This proposal was carried into effect, and the section was formed, with 
Professor H. B. Kirk as President and Mr. Gr. V. Hudson and Dr. J. A. 
Thomson as Vice-Presidents. Under the auspices of the section an interest¬ 
ing and instructive lecture on cc Neuropteroid Insects ” was delivered by 
Dr. It. J. Tillyard, of Sydney. 
Membership. —All members of the Wellington Philosophical Society whp 
wish to join may become members of the section without further sub¬ 
scription. By a new rule of the society, associate members may be elected 
by any section of the society, and the subscription for such membership 
, is 5s. per annum. This allows of junior members joining a section and 
attending meetings and excursions. They do not, however, receive the 
annual volume of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. The 
number of members who have joined as associates of this section seems to 
have.justified the new departure. 
Excursions and Lectures. —With the common object of promoting the 
study of natural history, a series of field excursions and lectures have been 
arranged. Excursions will be held during the summer months, and lectures 
and discussions will occupy the winter evenings. 
Already four field excursions have taken place, and the attendance has 
been encouraging. Crow’s Nest Bush, Wilton’s Bush, Silverstream Valley, 
and the rock-pools at Island Bay have all been visited and collections made 
of specimens found in the vicinity. At each excursion a leader with some 
special knowledge of the locality and its features has taken charge of the 
party and identified specimens or imparted knowledge to those interested. 
Besides giving healthful recreation to the body, these excursions promote 
the dissemination of useful knowledge that cannot always be obtained from 
a text-book. The social aspect of the case is worthy of consideration, as 
one meets with kindred spirits who are ever ready to help in the problems 
that need solution. 
It is to be hoped that this section will receive the support of all local 
enthusiasts. Any person wishing to join as an associate, on communicating 
with the Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. Hamilton, Dominion Museum, will 
receive all particulars as to excursions, &c. 
