556 Proceedings. 



"phalanger," and " opossum-rugs" should be called " phalanger-rugs." 

 The phalanger was common all over Australia and Tasmania, and had 

 been introduced and was becoming common in New Zealand. It was 

 a most destructive animal to fruit-trees. 



Mr. J. J. Walker, of H.M.S. " Ringarooma " mentioned that at 

 Kawau, "Sir George Grey's island," it was almost impossible to grow 

 fruit owing to the number of phalangers. 



A fine specimen of carunculated shag caught on White 

 Rock was also exhibited. Two more of the birds had been 

 prepared for presentation by Lord Ranfurly to the British 

 Museum. 



It was stated that there was on the island a little colony of about 

 twenty pairs of the birds, and it was noted as strange that they should be 

 pairing at the time the " Ringarooma" visited the spot (8th July). That 

 was in the depth of winter. 



Papers. — 1. "Notes on Whitebait," by A. J. MacKenzie ; 

 communicated by Sir J. Hector. {Transactions, p. 309.) 



2. "Notes on Whitebait," by E. Gibson; communicated 

 by Sir J. Hector. (Transactions, p. 311.) 



3. " On Galaxias (Whitebait)," by Sir James Hector. 

 (Transactions, p. 312.) 



Before concluding the meeting the President made a few 

 remarks on the Wairaki clay which he had lately found. 



He stated that a quantity of it was handed over to Mr. P. Hutson, 

 who manufactured from it a bottle and jar, which Mr. Travers described 

 as "the equal of anything turned out by Doulton." The clay arose 

 chiefly from a decomposition of pumice, and was nearly pure white and 

 of remarkably good texture. 



Mr. Hutson stated that if he could get the clay at a reasonable price 

 he would use it in preference to the kaolin clay which he had now to 

 import from Europe. 



Second Meeting : 18th November, 1902. 



Mr. W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



New Member. — Mr. D. A. S. Cowper, Wellington. 



Mr. Martin Chapman was again nominated to represent 

 the Society on the Board of the New Zealand Institute. 



Papers.— 1. "On the Construction of a Table of Natural 

 Sines," by C. E. Adams, B.Sc. (Transactions, p. 408.) 



2. " On Gharagia virescens," by A. Quail, F.E.S. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 249.) 



3. " On Hvbrid Ferns," bv H. C. Field. (Transactions, 



p. 372.) 



Messrs. Travers and Hustwick entirely disagreed with the theory 

 propounded in this paper, and were of opinion tbat hybridization of ferns 

 was not possible, the specimens under notice being mere varieties. 



