NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 18254, 19 April 1923, Page 5

NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

OUTING TO GOAT ISLAND. A large number of members made the trip to Goat Island) arranged for Saturday Itet, and, the day being very fine, the outing was rendered) more than usually enjoyable, and good work was done by members in the direction of collecting or noting the names of the plants and animals inhabiting the island. In all eightyone native plants and twenty-five introduced plants were noted by the botanical section. The orly plant of more than ordinary interest was a fern not known elsewhere within a radius of fifty miles of Dunedin viz., the maidenhair-leafed spleen wort (Asplenium falcatum), of the club’s catalogue, but more correctly Aspleniurn adiantioides. The former plant a native of New Hebrides, and is quite distinct from, though very similar to, the New Zealand fern. On the summit of the island the bracken was seen growing afmost as a mat plant, the probable result of wind and sun. The introduced plants, like gorso, broom, ragwort, Canadian and other thistles, mark the site of former habitation, but have failed to encroach on the undisturbed portions of the island. The individual who planted bunny on the island is probably neither a naturalist nor a member of the Field' Club. More possibly he may be the “Goat” after whom the island is named. These small islets around the New Zealand coasts are of intense interest to the entomologist, as they offer him a chance to find the original fauna in an almost undisturbed state. Unfortunately, all have had disturbing factors, and in the case of Goal Island this disturbance is well marked. Still, it is noticeable that the two recent intruders which on. the mainland have so affected our insect fauna are not yet there—namely, the earwig and the wood louse. Wherever the wood' louse has penetrated the native ants are not able to maintain their existence On this small islet four kinds of ants and the various colonies of them appeared to be in a flourishing condition. The insects taken included lacewings, P. socidao, a. large number of the common eolenptera in all stages, and a pair of entirely new species of weevil. A few tipulidae were taken, and several of the commoner diptera noted. The lepidoptera included Pyraraeis goncrilla (flying) and also Deilemora annulate.. Several chrysalids of moths were taken, including two Nanthorhoo species and one Noctuia. Hydriomcna, gobiala waft seen flying, as also Venusia- verriculnla and Pyrogotis plagiatana—all quite common species. Turning over stones was greatly productive, and, besides the insects, numbers of spiders, centipedes, and planarians were seen. The chrysalids of a large Ichneumon and one or two small shells were also in (ho “bag.” From the observations of the geological section it appeared that this island consisted wholly of trachyte, intersected with dykes of the same material, the general trend of which was north and south. The trachyte varied widely in hardness and also in internal structure, some fragments whiejf were the hardest showing felspar-crystals of considerable size. A strange rock, which appeared to be a sandstone, similar in appearance to the trachyte, was found on the summit and offered a problem as to how it got there, INDOOTI MEETING. At the indoor meeting held on Monday evening Mr W. Martin gave a very Titeresting lecture on the ‘Origin and Distribution of New Zealand Plants.’ I a the course of his remarks the lecturer stated that New Zealand is the most isolated country in the world. Where did it get its vegetation? Rising and falling has altered the extent of New Zealand, bringing it nearer to other lands. Away back about the cretaceous period Now Zealand extended towards Australia. It subsided, but again rose and increased ‘o continental dimensions, stretching away north to Lord Howe Island, Now Caledonia, and Polynesia. Again there was subsidence, and New Zealand was reduced to a chain of islands. Uplift occurred once more in Pliocene, but there was i.o connection with Polynesia, and since then New Zealand had shrunk to its present dimensions. By these land extensions or land bridges most of the original stocks of plants gained entrance, and there were not fewer than four accessions to supplement already existing flora. The problem of where New Zealand obtained its plants, and of how these have born distributed, has recently been advanced considerably by the researches of a scientist, Dr ,T. G‘. Willis, of Rio de Janeiro.

This scientist has never set foot on Now Zealand soil, and probably would not recognise a collodion of New Zealand plants to be such if he saw thorn; yet in this, strangely enough, lies much of the strength of the conclusions. While studying the flora of Ceylon, Willis was forced to the conclusion that the theory of natural selection was not a sufficient explanation of plant distribution in that country. The plants indigenous to ‘.he island wore found to be much rarer than those also found on the mainland of India. Instead of those species occupying very small areas being regarded as relicts (the last of the tribe, so to speak), they were species only recently brought into being, and had not yet had time, to spread. Instead of being species unsuited to their environment and dying out because not the fittest, 'Willis showed that frequently they occupied overlapping areas. The great factor determining the relative area over which plants have, been distributed is the ago of each species. Hence the now theory is termed the “Age and Area” theory. ’ his remarks upon this theory, Mr Martin illustrated his lecture by diagrams and tables tracing the routes by which the various plants well known to his listeners entered New Zealand. At the conclusion of his address Air Martin was accorded a very heartv vote of thanks.

Tli© report of the directors of the Canterbury (New Zealand) Aviation Company for the year ended March 31 states: It will be seen that instead of a loss the company has made a profit of £66 9s 2d. Tills result has been arrived at by practically closing down for the greater part of the year and dispensing with the services of many of the staff, for whom we were unable to find profitable employment. Your directors draw attention to the fact that nothing has been written off during the year. Your directors consider that the increase in value of some of the company s assets render this unnecessary, and there is .further reason —viz., that the company is at present negotiating with the Government regarding the sale to the Government of the assets, lees the liabilities, of the company, provided l that the Government can make use of the property as a training ground ior airmen for the defence of New Zealand. If the scheme seems likely to succeed, the shareholders will be called together and informed.— CJ.Kjstehurch correspondent.