Otago Institute. 739 



The mat was made more attractive by four strips, the whole length 

 of the mat, about 4 in. wide, being of pure-white kiwi-feathers. The mat 

 was kindly lent for exhibition by Mrs. H. Matthews. As this fine mat 

 has only recently been complett^d ir, is evident that the art has not yet 

 died out. It also shows that the North Island kiwi is still plentiful in 

 certain districts, and that albino forms are not rare. 



Fifth Meeting : 13th September, 1898. 

 A. Bathgate, Vice-president, in the chaii'. 



New Member. — E. A. Petherick, London. 



The Chairman mentioned that the third part of Mr. 

 Hamilton's book on "Maori Art" had been pubhshed, and 

 was now available for members and the public generally. All 

 members of the Institute had the privilege of acquiring this 

 liandsome and valuable work at a reduced rate. The way in 

 which the volume had been turned out by the publishers was 

 a credit to the colony. 



Papers. — 1. " Notes on certain of the Viscera of the 

 Notornis," bv Professor W. B. Benham, D.Sc. {Transactions, 

 p. 151.) 



2. " Notes on the Fourth Skin of Notornis," by Professor 

 W. B. Benham, D.Sc. (Transactions, y>- 146.) 



3. A. Hamilton : " On the Distribution of Notornis, and 

 General Notes on the Genus." 



Abstract. 



Mr. A. Hamilton read an interesting paper, stating the facts, so far 

 as they were known, of the distribution of Notoriiis, of its relation- 

 ship, its habits, and what had been already written and recorded about 

 it. Novw that Notornis had been proved still to exist, he asked if it would 

 not be advisable for the authorities to organize a search expedition. It was 

 a question whether the takahe should not ue scheduled with the other 

 protected birds. In the discussion which took place in the House of 

 Representatives some days ago the question was raised of its being made 

 compulsory for the more valuable specimens of native birds and speci- 

 mens of native work being offered to the Government before being sent 

 out of the colony. Before, however, such an .\ct could be made operative 

 the State would have to recognise the claims of a Colonial Museum to 

 a greater measure of support, and be prepared to purchase, under com- 

 petent scientific direction, specimens which might be submitted. A long 

 list of treasures might have been saved for the colony had such a 

 museum been in existence hitherto. Was it too late? The suggested 

 Act would not propose to stop bvisiness transactions of this kind ; it 

 would simply say that a declaration must be made of the specimen 

 offered for sale, and the price it was valued at. This declaration would 

 be submitted to the Government authority, and if it wa> thought desir- 

 able to retain the specimen the owner would be advised that negotiations 

 could be opened for the purchase by the Government. 



The Chairman ob-erved that shortly after the account of the capture 

 of the Notornis appeared in the papers an old Maori client of his from 



