42 Proceedings. 



By means of lantern-sHdes the lecturer kept his audience closely interested, 

 showing totaras, kauris, mosses, and ferns, and explained the anatomy of forest- 

 leaves and the peculiar variation of alpine plants, and commented upon the adapt- 

 ability of plants to their surroundings. He showed the effect of wandering dunes 

 upon the surrounding plant-life, and also how wind can affect the nature of forest- 

 growth. 



On the motion of Dr. Benhaiii, a hearty vote of thanks was accorde<l 

 to the lecturer. 



Sixth Meeting : J^th October, 1910. 

 The President, Professor Waters, in the chair. 

 There were twenty niemljers present. 

 New Member. — Mr. Roger Buddh-. 



Exhibits.- — Dr. Benhani exhibited, — 



(1.) A widow's cap, made of seaweed, worn by a Maori widow during 

 her period of mourning. 



(2.) A widow's cap from Australia. This was made of white clay, 

 and was a very ponderous and uncomfortable article of head-wear. 



(3.) A money - girdle from Santa (Jrnz. This was some "UJ ft. or 

 40 ft. in length, and its construction was most interesting, as it was 

 formed on one side by millions of real feathers carefully and neatly 

 inserted and interlaced with the fibrous materials of the belt. 



(4.) A curious sleeping-coverlet from the Solomon Islands. This 

 was made from palm-leaves sewn in parallel lines. 



(5.) Some Australian weapons with flint heads. 



(6.) A fish-hook from New Guinea. This was similar in construction 

 and ornamentation to our New Zealand fish-hooks. 



(7.) Some very quaint and grotesque masks from New Guinea. 



(8.) A finely constructed basket from one of the South Sea islands. 



Mr. George Howes showed, — 



(1.) Some fine Australian Lepidoptent, several of them closely allied 

 to our local species, also some highly coloured and very beautiful species 

 from South America. 



(2.) A number of complete specimens of the vegetable caterpillar, 

 and also several pieces of caterpillars that had been cut to pieces while 

 digging. Since the exhibitor had got them, each piece had thrown 

 out its shoot or s}tore-bearing portion; and he asked for an explanation 

 •of this hitherto-unrecorded fact. 



Dr. lieidiam, in giving a slunt account of the life-hist(n-y t)f Porino, 

 stated that the fungus sends out fructifying shoots in the line of least 

 resistance — in the living animal, generally just behind the head. 



Professoi' Marshall showed some alkaline rocks from 'J'aliiti, and 

 discussed the question of a great continental area in the Pacific. 



