On a Peculiar Appearance in a Cloud during the Daylight.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 27, 1894, Page 663

2. “On a Peculiar Appearance in a Cloud during the Daylight,” by A. J. Lichfield. Abstract. The author described an iridescent cloud from which the spectrum rays were diffused, and not arranged as in a rainbow. The sky was clear, with passing clouds, but no other cloud presented the same phenomenon. Sir J. Hector considered the President's paper most interesting; and such accurate observations were of great use. With regard to the light in the cloud, it might have been caused by ice, it might have been an electrified cloud discharging hail, or it was possibly due to smoke in the atmosphere from a bush fire. Mr. Tregear had observed similar lights in clouds, but could not account for it. The President thought it must have been produced by ice, and that it was a portion of a halo formed where a frozen cloud was in the position required to produce the effect. 3. “A Synoptical List of Coccids reported from Australasia and the Pacific Islands up to December, 1894,” by W. M. Maskell. (Transactions, p. 1.) The author read extracts from the paper, and made some remarks upon the manner in which new species were made. He said that the majority of scientific workers were more anxious to have their names attached to specimens than to apply themselves to any real work of the

study itself; the very slightest variation seemed sufficient to induce them to make a new species. But with the Coccids they had been careful in this respect, and hence the few new species: they required an organic character, and not a mere colour. It was a question as to how far we were warranted in making long lists of species on small, trivial, and external characters. Mr. Hudson was sorry Sir W. Buller was not present, as he would more fully answer Mr. Maskell on this subject. What applied to Coccids did not apply to other insects; each case should be judged on its merits. If colour and other characters are constant, then we must accept them as sufficient. Sir J. Hector said that Mr. Maskell's list would be most valuable, as it would contain all the known species of Coccids up to date, with remarks and information that will be most useful to farmers and fruitgrowers. The President also said the list would be of the greatest use.