654 Proceedings. 



The remedy had been often pointed out by Mr. Maskell — namely, the 

 establishment of a properly-equipped department to conserve such plants, 

 &c., as were of benefit, and to destroy those that were injurious. The 

 American Government set us a good example in this matter. The farmers 

 of the country were the real producers, and they should be assisted. 



Mr. Maskell was glad that Mr. Travers had touched on this important 

 subject of the formation of such a department. He would again draw 

 attention to the remarks he had made in his paper, printed in the last 

 volume of the Transactions, on this subject. He hoped other members 

 of the Society would take the same interest in the matter as Mr. Travers 

 did. 



Mr. T. Kirk gave a most interesting account of the noxious and other 

 weeds introduced into New Zealand. Our climate was most suitable to 

 such plants, and, unless checked, they would thrive. He mentioned that 

 some of our New Zealand plants were changing the colour of their flowers 

 to white, also the naturalised plants, probably owing to want of insects 

 for fertilisation. Nearly all our mountain plants were pure white. 



Mr. T. W. Kirk, in replying, said he had hoped that some remedy 

 would have been suggested for preventing the spread of these weeds. He 

 said that the matter was being taken up by Government. 



3. " Ornithological Notes," by T. W. Kirk, F.L.S. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 181.) 



Sir James Hector said that had he known that Mr. Kirk intended 

 reading a paper on this subject he would have been glad to place speci- 

 mens in the Museum on the table. Several specimens of albinoes and 

 variegated New Zealand birds were in the collection. 



Mr. Hudson -said that most albinoes had pink eyes. The white 

 plumage might be a protection, especially in snow countries, and it was 

 warmer. 



Mr. Harding had seen a perfect albino in Napier which had been cap- 

 tured on the coast. 



Mr. Hulke said that true albinoism was always accompanied with a 

 change in the colour of the eye. He had heard of an albino Maori 

 family. 



Mr. Canavan said that on an island in Loch Ray the rooks and 

 blackbirds were white, with red eyes. 



General Schaw had seen a white blackbird in Ireland. He thought 

 that there might possibly be something in this country against brilliant 

 colouring, and that birds and flowers were affected by it. New Zealand 

 seemed to favour sombre colouring in birds, insects, and flowers and 

 foliage. 



4. " Ossiferous Clay found at Queen Charlotte Sound." 

 Mr. Tregear described the locality where the clay had been 

 found. The bones were calcined, and seemed to be of several 

 kinds. They might be the remains of whales. 



Sir James Hector said that without further inquiry it was difficult to 

 say how those heaps had been formed. Those near the beach certainly 

 contained charred bones ; but the last-found bone fragments, at a distance 

 from the sea-shore, did not seem to have been burnt. 



General Schaw exhibited some chips that showed imperfect 

 spontaneous combustion, which could not be accounted for. 

 The chips formed the nest of a laying hen. 



Mr. Canavan exhibited the head and claw of a kiwi, of 

 large size, belonging to a bird standing 3ft. 6in. high, and 



