THE EYE,

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 94, 18 October 1906, Page 7

THE EYE,

"The Eye and Its Development; & Study in Natural History," was the subject of a lecture (one of the series instituted by the City Council) Riven by the Rev. D. C. Bates at St. Thomas's Schoolroom last night, in the presence of a numerous audience. Tho lecturer displayed a full knowledge of his subject, with which he dealt in a lucid and interesting manner which brought vividly before those present tho adaptability of every_ creature's eye to its environment, enabling it to secure protection from its enemies, and the necessary food for Hb sustenance. The eves of insects, fisbco, and animals were snown to illustrate the various characteristics, the lecturer taking particularly the New Zealand birds and the tuatanv lizard with its pineal eye and the eye in the centre of its forehead, which still exists in an elewentary stage as a median eye. Ho also showed how marvellously complex h the structure of the eye, and incidentally pointed out the danger of children being allowed to read too much, or to read email print, or to read in a bad light, all of which mistakes frequently lead to lifelong trouble. Mr. Bates made a special feature of the wonderful adaptability of nature in regard to the eye, and explained the nature of light and the manner in which colour and form are discerned by the eyes of various creatures. From, beginning to end the lecture was crowded with facta of a moat interesting nature, put before the audvenc© jn a simple, clear manner, and the lecturer incidentally put in a plea fop the institution of a municipal zoological gardons, co that the people might be induced to take a keener and livelier in» terest in animal life. The lecture was illustrated by some seventy or eighty lantern slides, which in themselves were well worth seeing, and at the close Mr. Bates was accorded a hearty and welldeserved vote of thanks. In replying, the lecturer acknowledged his indebtedness to 'Messrs. Baillie and Perry for valuable assistance rendered, and to Mr. Clark for having prepared tho slides. Mr. A. Jorgensen presided.