REVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9581, 4 August 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

REVIEWS.

Transactions and Proceedings op the New Zealand Institute : Vol. XXVI.

(1893), pp. xix., 711. Plates, xliii. Government Printing Office, Wellington, The Now Zealand record of scientific work for the past year is a much larger volume than its immediate predecessor, and affords evidence of a large amount of intellectual activity, combined with exact observation and patient labour. In some instances, old beliefs are shown to be erroneous, in others valuable suggestions are given; here the sum total of our knowledge is widely increased, there a worker enters upon a field hitherto untouched in the colony, modestly stating that " there is much work of great value to be done that can well be done by an observer who is content to describe in words and by drawings what he sees, and no more." The volume shows progress in many directions, yet, as a volume, it is less satisfactory than the volume for the previous " year.' Some papers printed 1 iii eztenso are unworthy of the honour, and tend to lower the general value of the work, while causing needless expense. More careful selection is absolutely necessary. Another cause of complaint is afforded by the inferior quality of the plates, Which appears largely duo to the inefficiency of the draughtsman. Unless a marked improvement is speedily made in this matter, our best workers will send their best papers to European or American societies for publication. It may be that the difficulty is largely due to the paucity of means at the command of the learned manager of the Institute. If this be the case it would be readily met by small subscriptions from members specially interested in the success of the Institute at large, on the facts being made public. There can be no question that the funds at the disposal of Sir James Hector are expended in the most economical manner possible, bub ib is highly desirable thab the very indifferent style of plates to which we are somewhab accustomed should be immediately superseded by illustrations of a better quality. That this could be achieved is amply demonstrated by plate ix., which is all that need be desired. In all probability ib was drawn on the stone by the author of the paper, certainly not transferred by the draughtsman, who is responsible for the majority of the plates. ' The number of articles and the space devoted to each section is as under Zoology, 21 papers, 257 pages; botany, 15 papers, 90 pages geology, .12 papers, 76 pages ; mis-, cellaneous, 25 papers, 202 pages. Papers in chemistry are conspicuous by their absence. yf - >

The first paper is entitled "Contribution to the Osteology of the Aborigines of New Zealand and ■ of the Chatham Islands," and is written ■ by John H. Scotb. Professor of Anatomy in the University of Otago. It is of recondite character, and shows the result of a vast amount of labour, involving upwards of one hundred and tea thousand of

measurements of various bones in the skeletons of Maoris and Morions. Two of the conclusions at which the author arrives are of interest to the general reader :— "If any further? proof were required of the mixed ■origin of the Maori race it is given in. this paper.'-. .An examination of the ' cranial indices and their variation shows this clearly. . These' demonstrate two distinct types and intermediate forms. At the one extreme we' have skulls approaching the Melanesian form, as met with- in the Fiji group— "and narrow, high in proportion to their breadth, prognathous, and with wide nasal openings. At the other are skulls of the Polynesian type—such - as are common in Tonga and Samoa—shorter and broader,; with orthognathous faces. And it must be noted that these extreme forms :do not belong to different tribes or districts, but may both be found in one. Among: the skulls of the Ngaitahu tribe alone, we have as great a variation in almost all the indices, as may be met with in - the entire collection of crania gathered together from all parts of both these islands." ' .... "The Moriori skull differs from the Maori skull mainly in its lesser hoight, both absolute and relative to length and breadth ; the greater excess of the parietal over the frontal width ; and the narrower nasal opening. The depressed and retreating forehead is also a marked feature of many Moriori skulls. It is slightly broader relatively to its length, and somewhat more prognathous. The cranial capacity is also slightly less. But, as already pointed out, there is often a very close resemblance between Maori and Moriori skulls. The variation of the indices, though somewhat more restricted than with the Maoris, is still considerable, and points like the traditions of the people to an origin from the two great Pacific stocks." VV. M. Maskeil has "Further Coccid Notes, with Descriptions of Mew Species," chiefly from Australia, "Motes on Spiders," by MajorGeneral Schaw, touches on several points of interest. He found by experiment that when a line was thrown out by a spider placed in an isolated position the arachnid appeared to trust to his good fortune that it might catch on something, and was very sensitive to the' feeling of the line when it caught; he then hauled taut and belayed, just as a sailor would have done ; a process which seems almost like reason.- H. Farquhar describes a new star-fish belonging to the group of "brittle-stars." He names it Amphiura rosea. It is remarkable for the peculiar habit of throwing off its disc and renewing it. Many other species have the power of replacing an amputated ray, but very few are able to undergo evisceration, and to replace the disc and. visceral mass. The plate which accompanies the paper is beautifully executed, and is the only good plate in the volume. A. Sfcenhouse gives a detailed account of the "anatomy of the pigfish (Agriopus leucopixcilus), which shows a large amount of patioat labour. H. Suter describes several new lana-moilusks, and gives a useful check-list of the Mew Zealand land and freshwater molluaca," which comprises 177 species, with many varieties, W. W. Smith lias an interesting paper " On Mew Zealand Earthworms," with descriptions'of new species by F. E. Beddard, re-printed from the proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1892. Like other members of the Mew Zealand fauna, the native earthworms are killed off by settlement and cultivation, their places being taken by introduced species. H. B. Kirk, A., has a paper entitled, "Contribution to a knowledge of the * New Zealand Sponges," which is intended to be the first paper of a series. The author describes two species of calcareous sponges, one of which, Leucosolenia echinata, is new to sicence. Sir Walter Buller gives an account of the Oceanic birds observed during his voyage to England and return. "On the Importance of New Zealand Biological Collections," by G. V. Hudson, is a paper so amusingly juvenile in tone that it is impossible to conceive any reason for its being printed in extenso. It appears to have been sharply • criticised when read, and at page HBSSMtheCtf Proceedings it instated, "Sir James! Hector was surprised that Mr. Hudson, us shown by his paper, was so ignorant as to what had really been done by scientific workers in New Zealand," etc. A. T. Urquhaat continues bis " Descriptions of New Spiders." One of those described in the present paper, N'emeiia KirJcii, constructs a nest which is usually furnished with two trapdoors ! Mr. Urquhart is of opinion the Aus tralian katipo, which has boen described as a distinct species, is identical with the New Zealand katipo, an opinion which is confirmed by Professor T. Thorell. " Notes on the New Zealand Bats," by T. F. Cheeseman,* F.L.S., show that they sometimes occur in large numbers, contrary to the popular opinion as to their extreme rarity. It? may be mentioned that on two or three occasions when men-of-war have visited the Sounds, the large-eared bat has been found to take refuge in the folds of the sails. A. Hamilton states the " Results of a Further Exploration of the Bone Cave at the Castle Hocks, Southland," which appears to have been remarkably successful, many of the bones found being in excellent condition. The author writes, " It was curious to note

that in the cranium of the skull (of the smaller Harpaqornvi) thore still remained several of the chitinous pupa-cases of the flesh flies that consumed the remains of the

lordly eagle." The same author has compiled a useful catalogue of papers at\.d articles on the Dinorthididce, the great extinct birds of New Zealand, which is a valuable contribution to the bibliography of the subject, and will save the student a vast amount of tedious labour.

In the botanical section new flowering plants are described by T. Kirk, D. Pebrie, and the Rev. W. Colenso. The only plant of economic interest is a fine sow-thistle from the Chatham Islands, the fleshy roots of which seem likely to be valuable for cabbie food. T. W. Naylor Beckett has two valuable papers on New Zealand mosses. Robert Brown has two or three papers on small annual mosses belonging to the genera Gymnostomum, Pottia, and Phascitm, but his acquaintance with bryological literature is evidently not extensive. A valuable paper by Robert Laing, B.Sc., describes the external character, anatomy, and histology of a fucoid, Lesnonia variegata, from Cook Strait. T. W. Kirk describes the cockle-burr, Xanthium strumarium, a recent and most unwelcome introduction, observed on ballast at Wellington. Ib is closely related bo the " Babhursb burr," and is said bo poison stock, by inducing paralysis of the heart, in Queensland. Ib is unlikely bo become established on the clay hills abont Wellington, bub might readily become troublesome on the light basaltic soil of the Auckland isthmus. Mr. Colenso gives a further list of fungi recently added to the flora. The same author has two popular papers on the American aloe and prickly pear, the banana, vanilla, edelweiss, and Rose of Jericho. Mr. Colenso draws attention to the

fact of the large stork's bill, odium cicutarium, being extensively used for cattle food in California. lb is' abundantly naturalised about Auckland, and is considered a troublesome weed. In the Geological Section George Hogben has a paper " On the Nelson Earthquake of February 12, 1893," which he believes to have originated ab " a point five miles and a-half W.S.W. of Nelson," " the first shock being about 25 miles down, the second higher up, ani the third about five miles below the surface." . Professor flutton describes a large reptile from the cretaceous rocks of the Waipara under the name of Gimoliosaurus candalis ; it appears to have been nearly six feet in length. James Park gives an account of the occurrence of a number of rare minerals on the Thames goldfield. P. Marshall gives an account of the Tridymite dyke near Lybtelton, and describes its minute structure. The results of the eruption of Tongariro, in November, 1892, are described by H. Hill, who also gives a brief account of the geology of the country between Danevirke and Wainui. "Notes on the.Piako and Waikato River

Basing," by. Laurence Cussen, give a most interesting account of the surface • geology of the district under notice, but has already been noticed in our columns. . The geological section closes with a short account of the "Geology of Nelson," by W. F. Worley, chiefly compiled from the records of the Geological Survey Department. _ ' The first, and perhaps the moab important) paper in the Miscellaneous section, is the account/', ofi;, " Maori, Implements and Weapons," as a lecture before the Auckland Institute, by T. H. Smith, to which

attention was drawn at the time. James Adams draws ' attention to the: unsatisfactory manner in which science is taught in our public schools. After quoting the opinion of the Wangariui inspectors of schools, he says :—"To call the matter taugh in the schools science is a misuse and degradation of the term." He adds, We must therefore honestly Confess that so far as public education is concerned the instruction in science has scarcely begun, and that no regular, plan has been so far adopted with the desirable object of having the instruction in school in harmony with the requirements of actual life." ' Professor Bickerton has an interesting paper entitled " Some Recent Evidence in Favour of Impact," in which after referring to the existence of dark . suns, he v asserts that the new triple star recently discovered in Nova Auriga has been directly caused by partial impact. " More Last Words," by - the Rev. W. Colenso contain interesting" reminiscences of his old travels in the Tongariro district, and an account of Mr. Collie's ascent of • Tongariro, when he spent a night in the crater. The entire paper is full of interesting matter, although some portion of ib has long been published. In a paper entitled Notes and Observations on M. A. de Quatrefage's Paper on " Moas and Moa Hunters," Mr. Colenso condemns the re-publication of this paper in the 25th volume of the " Transactions," and supports the views of the late Sir Juliu9 von Haast as bo the lengthened period that has elapsed since the extinction! of the moa. In his criticism he.: offers some trenchant observations on remarks made by Mr.' Travers, Mr. Masked, and others when the translation was read before the Wellington Philosophical Society. Taylor White records the existence (until recently) of an ancient Maori pa at Lake Te Anau. "Old Maori Civilisation," by E, Tregear, 13 a most interesting paper. The author brings good evidence to show that the Maoris formerly possessed a written language, which is now as entirely lost as the arb.of building the fine double canoes in use at the time of Cook's visit. "Tennyson and Browning," by the late Professor Pond, belongs to a class of paper always poorly represented in the " Transactions," to the great loss of numerous members in the affiliated societies. "The Date of the Extinction of the Moa," by H. C. Field, consists chiefly of extracts from local newspapers, and exhibits a readiness of belief which is charming in its simplicity. Sir Walter Buller's " Story of Papaitonga" adds another to the many recorded instances of Maori courage and treachery. Taylor White replies to Mr. Colensd's criticisms on his account of the Maori dog published in the 24th volume, but by no means conclusively. Coleman Phillips has several papers "On a Common Vital Force," in which a very old subject is treated in a somewhat new fashion, bub without adequate results for " the time and labour expended. : ■ ■ ' ' ■. "... The total number of ordinary members of the various affiliated societies is 672. The number of honorary foreign members is 28, making a total of 700. The Auckland Institute, with 177 members, has a larger number than any other affiliated society. The membership of the Otago Institute and the Canterbury Philosophical Society is surprisingly small.