A WESLEYAN MISSIONARY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5377, 21 June 1878, Page 5

A WESLEYAN MISSIONARY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE.

(From the N. Z. Herald.) From the journals of the Zoological Society of London, received by the last mail, wo observe that the collections of objects of natural history sent Home by the Rev. G. Brown have created something Uke a sensation in the scientific world. The collection was sent home to Mr. Sclator, secretary of tho Zoological Society, of London, and that gentleman, having brought it before tho society, divided it into ' eight departments, each of which was sent to a recognised authority on the special subject, who, after examination, read a paper on the subject before the society. It must always be kept in inind that Mr. Brown is not visiting the New Hebrides for tho. purpose- of -extending the bounds of science, and that his work in making collections of animals is necessarily subsidiary to his labors as a missionary. But the papers read before tho Zoological Society show that ho has done much for science, and may do more.' , The publication of these papers, which reach a large class hot likely to be; made aware by any other means of a Wes-; icyan Mission in the little-known regions adjacent to New •Guinea, cannot but be pro-

ductivo of good to the mission, and must reflect credit on the Wesleyan body. Mr. Solater stated to the society that, in ackuowlodging the collection, he took the opportunity of pointing oat to Mr. Brown the very interesting nature of the locality in which he was resident, and of assuring him that_ he would do his best to see that any zoological specimens that Mr, Brown might be able to collect there were properly worked out, and that due credit was given to him. Mr. Solater himself takes the department of the birds. He states that he received 89 skins, belonging to 70 species, of which 10 appeared to be new to science. Colored plates of the birds are given; they are very beautiful iu form and color. Paper No, 2 is entitled, “On a Collection cf Chivoptcra (bats), from the Duke of York Island, and Adjoining Parts of New Ireland and New. Britain,” by G, E. Dobson, E.L.S. It is stated that there are 17 specimens—one being a type of a new genus and species, while 10 are new in the fauna of these little known islands. 3. “On the Rodents and Marsupials," by E. R. Alston, E.L.S., F.Z.S. The collection includes six species ; three of these appear to be identical with animals known to inhabit New Guinea, while the remainder belong to hitherto undescribed species. 4. “On the Reptiles and Fishes,” by Dr. Gunther, Vice-President of the Zoological Society. It is stated that this is a very valuable contribution to the very scanty knowledge we possess at present of the reptiles of these islands. There are nine different kinds of lizards, and eleven different kinds of snakes. There is one new lizard, three new species of snakes, and one new genus and species, 5, “ The Crustacea,” by E. J. Miers, of the British Museum. Of these there are forty-five specimens, representing sixteen species. 6. “ Notes on the Echinodermata (star-fishes),” by Edgar A. Smith, F.Z.S.. 7. “ On the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies),” by Osbert Salvin, F.R.S., and F. Ducane Goodman. Of butterflies there are forty species ; of moths, eleven genera and 14 species. 8. “On the Coleoptera (beetles),” by H. W. Bates, F.Z.S. This collection comprises fortyfour species. The papers are illustrated by colored engravings, beautifully executed-