WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



First Meeting. SOth June, 1886. 

 Dr. Hector, President, in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. " Report on the Infusoria of New Zealand," from 

 the Microscopic Section of the Society. Communicated by 

 W. M. Maskell, F.R.M.S. {Transactions, p. 49.) 



2. " On the English Scaly Lizard in New Zealand, Zootoca 

 vivipara,'" by T. W. Kirk. [Transactions, p. 67.) 



3. " Note on the Occultation of Jupiter and its Satellites, 

 16th April, 1886, as observed at Petone, New Zealand," by Dr. 

 Hector. 



Times by watch, approximate to New Zealand mean time : Disap- 

 pearance of 1st satellite, llh. 28m. 20s. ; 2nd satellite, llh. 30m. 40g. 

 Planet: 1st limb, llh. 31m. 35s. ; 2nd limb, llh. 32m. 27s.; 3rd satellite, 

 llh. 34m. Os. ; 4th satellite, llh. 35m. 15s. Keappearance : 1st satellite, 

 12h. 42m. 30s. ; 2nd satellite, 12h. 44m. 45s. Planet : 1st limb, 12h. 45m. 

 30s. ; 2nd limb, 12h. 47m. 10s. ; 3rd satellite, 12h. 48m. Os. ; 4th sateUite, 

 12h. 49m. 20s. Observed with a 4in. refractor, 100 diameter eye-piece. 

 At disappearance of satellites no change, but sharp and sudden. The 

 advancing limb of the planet on dark edge of the moon was blurred before it 

 was flattened, and during the occultation the planet's disc was crossed by 

 a distinct silvery streak parallel with the moon's edge, decidedly brighter 

 than the rest of the planet, and distant about 4" from the moon's edge. 

 Between this streak and the moon's edge the light was only slightly, if at 

 all, brighter than the rest of the disc. This streak maintained its position 

 relative to the moon's edge until the planet was almost totally occluded, 

 but the last film of light from the planet's limb suddenly shrank to a 

 minute point of light, which disappeared sharply in the same manner as the 

 satellites had done. The reappearance of the planet from the bright limb 

 of the moon showed no silvery streak, but a dusky film seemed to divide the 

 planet from the moon, as it passed from behind, and especially at the time 

 of final emergence. 



4. The President delivered an address. [Transactions, p> 

 461.) 



Second Meeting : ith August, 1886* 



Dr. Hector in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. "'On the New Zealand Glow-worm," by G. V* 

 Hudson. [Transactions, p. 62.) 



