THINGS OF EARTH AND AIR

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 88, 7 January 1908, Page 6

THINGS OF EARTH AND AIR

FROM THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS. TEN MINUTES WITH .AN ENTOMOLOGIST.. Mr. G. V. Hudson, the entomologist of the recont scientific expedition to the sonthorn islands of New ■ Zealand* has not -al- - lowod the grass to grow under his feet. The Specimens collected,riumboring ' some hundreds, havo' been carefully classified and' neatly mounted in a doublo specimen" box. . At first sight it would appca rthatthe whole of Mr. Hudson's work in the storm-beaten islands between New Zealand'and the South Polo could be taken in at a gltfnco, but a closer view extinguishes that idea, and the 1 fascination of entomological study is unconsciously .suggested as the expert points'out the physical peculiarities and subtle beauties of; tho collection. Nature deals extensively in monotones. If a genus is destined to,lire.in the grassj Mother Nature, in.her kindness, gives it a casket of. green or ono alliw to that colour. to protect it as far as ; possible from enemiesj natural or otherwise. So it is with the island insects —they reflect tho grey-toned monotony of those dreary otitposts. There aro no bright flashes of. colour in the collection, no vivid . reminders of sunshine and blue skies—all the wretched loneliness of tho sea-lashed rocks that man has'tried and failed'to realise as a sticking-place for the genus homo, is reflected in Mr. Hudson's little box. Pull greys, blacks, dull browns aro .thero, . but only in one case,is there' a touch of colour. The wings , of one small moth are almost brick red, and the Dominion's entomological expert took heart, of grace, but his desire =for'colour—it is part of us all—at.tho. Aucklands, or' Snares, or some equally, unimportant, oceanic danger, was shattered by Mr. Hudson explaining smilingly that 'thoso t bright pink wings. had : never fluttered in a galo or known tho warmth of a summer day's sun—it was discovered in chrysalis form, and was grossly "murdered immediately it" loft its crinkled" its freshness. Its' brother'or sister was there-rone could , tell they - were relations by the strong family •likenoss 'in tho delicate wing markings— but r it had seen lifo as it is, and tho rosincas had 'turned ,to grey. • It" affects human beings : the same way. . ..This is tho first occcasion on which moths have been brought, from the Auckland Islands. . Mr./ Hudson secured .no fewer than eighteen species,' the majority of which are closely allied to New Zealand sorts. ; "I was really surprised to see him!" said Mr. Hudson, pointing to something that closely resembled'a bit of dirt. The writer looked closely, and discovered that it was a small-moth. This was the plutella eusciferarum, found at -Endorby Island, and "a terrible scourge in a cabbage patch. "I couldn't make it .out at all," said Mr. Hudson, "until I remembered that there had been a settlement there many' years ago. Of course ; they must havo been conveyed thero in somo manner by the settlers, and. have gone on breeding over since." . . • • > ■ -".Two of tho species of moths, found' at the Auckland Islands," said Mr. Hudson, '.'are identical -with two found 'in New Zealand, and as it is.-impossible for them to have " flown -or be taken to the islands, I . consider it. one of the strongest claim's ' in evidence of a former land connection- between . the two. places." . . , Apart from .moths, which form the major portion of the collection, are.several other . insects of scientific interest. - The wingless ichneumen.fiy was found on the Aucklands— a .tiny little thing' with an attenuated body, long legs, and (on looking closely) a pair of rudimentary-wings, too small and, powerless to enable it to fly. Poor ichneumon I - Another insect monstrosity was a "daddy without .wings—really . the funniest 1 : Such a' tiny,, fragile,' - body, perched high,up on an array ; of legs that a • spider,might have spun. It was in-' teresting to note that there is a good--Mr. Hudson..called them grand—variety of weevils at the , Aucklands. They are such "chummy little beggars, remind lone- of cheese, and home,, and all that ,sort .of thing. The writer confesses to being somewhat enamoured of a little pale-brojvn fellow, with "a Qyrano de Bergeracriose—he seemed such'good form.. Mr. Hudson; .said he ,was of the genus apion, which corroborates the good opinion tho writer formed of it. ■ There wero no butterflies on the islands, but there was-a. good lot of ..big, shiny-black beetles, large and malicious enough to make one shriek, and there were grubs smaller . than a pin's hoad, too,small to. be handled, so are just dabbed there , with a pin-point of gum. _ . ' . ' , It is difficult to .estimate precisely what the gain to scienco will be' by Mr. Hudson's efforts, but ho is a. gentleman to be avoided, if one does not wish to become interested in God's things of earth, and air. . ...