654 Transactions. — Geology. 



of the oval, slender, hoop-like type ; there were no thick, tube- 

 like rings. 



So far I have merely stated the facts ; but it is impossible 

 to avoid making a few speculations as to the meaning of the 

 differences between the two skeletons. These must be due 

 either to (1) specific differences, or to (2) sexual differences, 

 or to (3) individual variation. If the last is the case, we 

 ought to find all sorts of intermediate variations, as well pro- 

 bably as some more extreme than those exhibited by the two 

 skeletons. If, however, the differences are due either to the 

 first or to the second cause they ought to be tolerably con- 

 stant. If due to sexual differences, the numbers of each type 

 ought to be nearly equal ; but, if they are due to specific 

 differences, then one kind might be much more common than 

 another. 



The skulls of Dinornis in this Museum are not sufficiently 

 numerous to enable me to form a definite opinion on the 

 subject, but I am inclined to think that there are two 

 types, which are equally numerous, but very different in size. 



In confirmation of this view, I would point out that all 

 the peculiar features of the skull of No. I. skeleton (with the 

 exception of the great breadth of the premaxillae) are also seen 

 in Sir E. Owen's drawing of the skull of the small specimen 

 of D. rohustus which was found at Tiger Hill, in Otago, and 

 is preserved in the York Museum. Now, this Tiger Hill 

 specimen was accompanied by four half-grown chicks, so that 

 probably it was a female also. 



Perhaps the imperfect ossification of the tracheal rings in 

 skeleton I. is another sexual character. 



Akt. LXVIII. — On the Behaviour of Tico Artesian Wells at 

 the Ganterhury Mttseum. 



By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.E.S., Curator. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canter-bury, 3rd July, 1895.] 



Previous to March, 1894, the Museum was supplied with 

 water from a well sunk into the first water-bearing stratum, 

 and probably betw^een 90ft. and 100ft. in depth. This failing 

 to give a sufficient supply, a second well was sunk, which 

 reached the second water-bearing stratum, at a depth of 190ft. 

 from the surface, on the 23rd March, 1894. A glass gauge, 

 connected with this well, was put up inside the Museum on 

 the 9th April, and the height at which the water stood above 



