Wellington Philosophical Society. 537 



to the description of those insects that were injurious or otherwise to 

 man ; attention should also be given to the general study of insects. 



Mr. Maskell pointed out that he always gave the scientific descrip- 

 tions of the insects he treated, but abstained from reading them at the 

 meetings. 



3. The Chairman drew attention to some pieces of pottery 

 and copper nails, &c, found by Mr. Capper at Ly all's Bay, near 

 a wreck. The pottery was carbonaceous, and it was generally 

 thought that the nails were of French make. 



4. " On the Bats of New Zealand," by Sir W. Buller. 

 {Transactions, p. 50.) 



5. " On a Blue-necked Crested Shag (Phalacrocorax nycthe- 

 merus) from Antipodes Island," by Sir W. Buller. 



6. The Chairman also exhibited specimens of the flight- 

 less rail from Chatham Islands (Gabalus modesties), supposed 

 to be extinct, and the only rail that has a curved bill. 

 (Transactions, p. 52.) 



Seventh Meeting : 7th December, 1892. 

 Sir Walter Buller, President, in the chair. 



New Member. — Mr. Henry Wright. 



The Secretary announced that Sir W. Buller, Mr. J. 

 McKerrow, and Mr. S. Percy Smith had been elected Go- 

 vernors of the New Zealand Institute, to represent the incor- 

 porated societies, for the ensuing year. 



Papers. — 1. "' Synonymical Notes on New Zealand Cica- 

 didce," by G. V. Hudson. (Transactions, p. 162.) 



Sir James Hector thought it quite right for naturalists to give their 

 reasons for what they had done when questioned as to the correctness of 

 their descriptions. 



The Chairman also thought that Mr. Hudson had taken the proper 

 course in this matter. 



2. " Observations on Bambows," by B. C. Harding. 

 (Transactions, p. 448.) 



Sir James Hector said that he had seen double lunar bows in high 

 latitudes ; and in the case of lunar halos, where the effect was produced 

 by the diffractive influence of ice-spiculte, the arches were often nume- 

 rous, and made complicated figures. 



Mr. Hudson had seen two lunar rainbows. 



Mr. Maskell said that Mr. Harding's paper, as was usual with him, 

 suggested points outside the ostensible ones treated of, and he should like 

 to draw attention to one of them. In De Morgan's " Budget of Para- 

 doxes," a most amusing and instructive book, mention was made (he forgot 

 the page) of a picture exhibited in London many years ago at the Royal 

 Academy, in which the artist painted a rainbow reflected in a lake. The 

 picture was variously criticized. Artists said it was quite right. Some 

 scientists said it was all wrong; others were doubtful. De Morgan, in his 

 book, did not decide the point, but seemed to indicate that everybody was 

 wrong all round. The speaker had seen the point referred to in several 



