The Zoologist/4th series, vol 4 (1900)/Issue 708/Notes upon the Zoological Meeting of Pavia, Arrigoni degli Oddi

by Ettore Arrigoni degli Oddi

 

NOTES UPON THE ZOOLOGICAL MEETING
OF PAVIA.

By Count Ettore Arrigoni degli Oddi.

 

Two months ago a Committee, composed of the most illustrious Italian zoologists, invited their colleagues to a meeting which was to be held at Pavia on the 22nd and 23rd of April, 1900. The purpose of this meeting was to found a "National Zoological Union," and to facilitate and make possible an Annual Congress of Naturalists, which could only be done by long preparation. Amongst the subscribers may be mentioned the following University Professors:—Camerano (Turin), Cattaneo and Parona (Genoa), Emery (Bologna), Pavesi and Maggi (Pavia), Giglioli (Florence), Monticelli (Naples), and some others.

Many Italian zoologists approved of so useful and opportune an intention, and at the opening of the meeting in the Municipal Hall of Pavia several were present.

The President in the chair was Prof. P. Pavesi, a man dear to science and his friends, who is at the same time an illustrious naturalist, an appreciated politician, and now Mayor of Pavia. He warmly welcomed all those present, and stated he was pleased that the beginning of this Union should take place at Pavia. After the vino d'onore, Prof. Emery, of Bologna, thanked Pavesi for his kind welcome, and added some other opportune phrases. The first meeting took place at one o'clock in the Anatomical Hall, in order to decide if it would be useful to have a "Zoological Union" in Italy, and in this case to establish a scheme of statutes, and to name a temporary Committee. This meeting was presided over by Prof. Pavesi, having as a Secretary Miss Rina Monti, a young and clever naturalist. About forty persons were present, and amongst them I am pleased to mention Emery, Parona, Cattaneo, Maria Sacchi, Andres, Maggi, Martorelli, Monticelli, Coggi, Giacomini, Darniani, Ghigi, Picaglia, Magretti, Rosa, &c.

After interesting discussions the following statutes were provisionally approved:—

That an Association be established in Italy in order to diffuse and to advance zoology, and also to facilitate rapports amongst the lovers of this science, as understood in its fullest meaning, and to defend the interests of the teachers. That it take the name of the "Italian Zoological Union." That the number of its members be unlimited. That the "Union" shall have no fixed place of residence; that every year an ordinary meeting will take place in any Italian town fixed upon by the members, but that eventually arrangements may be made for extraordinary meetings. That its Council be composed of a President, two vice-Presidents, a Secretary (to be also a Treasurer), and a vice-Secretary; the duration of office to be for three years, and no re-election be allowed except in the case of the Secretaries. That the "Union" publish a simple bulletin with the names of its members—the "social bill"—the verbal proceedings of the meetings of the Committee and of the general meetings, and a short summary of the scientific work. The other matters which were established refer to the ordinary rules of the statutes, and are not generally interesting.

Ultimately the temporary President, Pavesi, delicately resigned, in order to leave the assembly free to elect whom it would; but he was asked to stand for the presidential chair, and was unanimously elected. The Secretary was Miss Rina Monti. The entire Committee will be chosen at the first annual general meeting.

The next day another meeting took place, when it was decided that the first assembly should be at Bologna, at the end of next September, and Prof. Ghigi of that town returned thanks for this choice, saying that Bologna would be proud of the decision. After a long discussion, on the proposal to have a zoological journal in Italy, and regarding the means to support it, a Commission was nominated, composed of the well-known Professors Emery, Cattaneo, and Monticelli, who will examine the question, and give the result at the next general meeting. At the conclusion the late proposed law of Minister Baccelli was fully discussed with regard to the teaching of natural history in secondary schools, and a motion was carried that the actual hours for study of natural history teaching, and particularly of zoology, be maintained as they are; that the same teaching be given only and exclusively by the Doctors in Natural Science, and it was decided that this be communicated to all the Natural History Societies of Italy, and afterwards communicated to the Ministry.

This concluded the meeting. On the same day a tablet was unveiled to the memory of that celebrated naturalist, Spallanzani, with a very masterly speech, delivered by Prof. Pavesi. A dinner afterwards took place.

To illustrate the real importance of a Zoological Union in any country is unnecessary. It certainly does not need any words, and every Italian naturalist will be grateful to Prof. Pavesi and his friends for this step. Before finishing these few notes I would express the wish that the newly founded Italian Zoological Society (Rome) will join itself to this Italian Zoological Union, and so make together a force and unite all the Italian zoologists in the best friendship for the advancement of our cherished science.