Otago Iiistikite. 627 



Papers. — 1. Professor Parker gave an account of the lead- 

 ing structural peculiarities of a large sun-fish (Orthagorisciis 

 viola) captured in the Upper Harbour in March last, and lately 

 mounted for exhibition in the Museum. The specimen is 

 8ft. 6in. in length, 6ft. in height, and lift, from tip of dorsal 

 to tip of ventral fin. It weighed 1^ tons. The anterior con- 

 tour is characterized by a gently-curved projection above the 

 mouth, from the dorsal end of which there is a backward 

 slope to the middle line of the back. Below the mouth is a 

 similar chin-like projection. Two strong, deep, horizontal 

 ridges run along each side of the trunk, one above, the other 

 below, the branchial aperture and pectoral fin. 



The brain and spinal cord were exhibited (together they 

 are not more than liin. in length) ; also sections, in alcohol, 

 of the skull and fin-rays, showing the very incomplete ossifi- 

 cation of the cartilage. On the skin were found numerous 

 specimens of the parasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus nordmanni. 

 The intestine contained immense numbers of a species of 

 Tmnia, and a Distonia. 



2. " Notes from Murihiku : being a Description of some 

 Eock Pictographs on the Waitaki, and Notes on a Maori Kete 

 containing Textile Fabrics and Materials," by A. Hamilton. 

 {Transactions, p. 169.) 



Mr. G. M. Thomson gave a verbal report of the work done 

 since the last meeting by the Fisheries Committee. 



He stated that a meeting had been held between the committee, the 

 council of the Acclimatisation Society, and the members of the General 

 Assembly resident in Dunedin, at which it was resolved to impress 

 strongly upon the Government the desirability of establishing a fish- 

 hatchery at Purakanui, as proposed by the committee. Mr. Thomson 

 also stated that he had written to the Chairman of the Scottish Fisheries 

 Board and to the United States Commissioner for Fisheries for certain 

 specific information on the matter. 



Thibd Meeting: 14th July, 1896. 

 Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. 



New Meynhers. — John Angus, D. Clarke, J. T. Bryant, 

 J. Langmuir, J. Skottowe Webb. 



Paper. — " Eeview of the Theories that have been advanced 

 to account for the Occurrence of Gold in Auriferous Lodes," 

 by J. E. Don, D.Sc. 



