OF HISTORICAL INTEREST

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22579, 8 December 1938, Page 10

OF HISTORICAL INTEREST

PAPER PRESENTED TO . ROYAL SOCIETY

A copy of a paper of great historical interest to biologists was presented to the Canterburv branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand, at its annual meeting last evening, by Dr. F. W. Hil : gendorf, the retiring president. The paper, which was written many years ago by an uncle of Mr Hilgendorf, was published at a time when controversy raged over the newly enunciated “theory of Charles lOarwin on the origin of species.

In making the gift, Dr. Hilgendorf explained that the writer was his uncle, Franz Hilgendorf, an eminent scientist of his time, and curator of the biological section of the Berlin Museum. He was one of the first German scientists to accept Darwin’s theory. Dr. Hilgendorf recalled that when he was a young student, he sent his first paper to his uncle for comment. His uncle in return sent his first published paper, the one that was presented to the society.

The paper dealt with a deposit of shells found by Franz Hilgendorf, which showed an amazing diversion through geological periods from the original tertiary parent. The diversion of type was sq great that shells which early in the period fell easily within one species, developed to a point where they were definitely different genera. The find was most important at the time, because it gave a complete picture of the theory which was so much in discussion.

“The paper is now of general historical interest rather than of family inter' est,” said Dr. Hilgendorf. “and I therefore offer it to the society.”

Dr. Hilgendorf was warmly thanked for the paper.