492 THE ZUOJ.OttlST. 



Mr. R. A. Kolfe, of Kew, exhibited examples of British oak-gall produced 

 by Cjnipideaii insects of the genus Neurotenis. These were the silk-button 

 gall formed by N. numismatis, the globose gall produced by N. ostreus; 

 the smooth spanj^le gall formed by N.fiwiipennis; the scarce spangle 

 gall formed by X. laviusculiis ; and the common spangle gall produced 

 by N. lenticularis, as also a purple variety of the latter gall. He stated 

 that the plan and details of the galls depend on the nature of the irritating 

 fluid deposited by the insect ; but, on the other hand, the different species 

 of oak seem to have an influence in determining certain variations, as to 

 colour, and it may be of the general growtii of the galls. 



Mr. Geo. Brook read a paper " On the Development of the Five-bearded 

 llockling, Molella mnstela,'" in which the following points were enunciated : 

 — (1). While there is only one large oil-globule in the normal egg of Motella, 

 this is sometimes subdivided into from two to eight or even more, but in 

 these cases there is always an abnormal development which often results in 

 the death of the embryo. In those that survive the small oil-globules 

 always coalesce to form one large one before the embryo hatches. (2) In 

 the further development of the newly-hatched embryo there is a cranial 

 flexure produced which is analogous to that so characteristic of Elasmo- 

 branchs. This is caused by the rapid development of the dorsal portion of 

 the head, while the ventral portion remains comparatively quiescent. Later 

 the ventral portion plays its part, and with the development of the jaws the 

 brain is pushed back to its normal position. (3). As in other pelagic 

 teleostean eggs, there is no circulation observable either in the embryo as 

 in the vitellus up to the time of hatching, nor indeed for some time after- 

 wards. (4). In Motella, the anal gut does not open on the ventral surface 

 for at least a week after hatching. Ryder has shown the same to be the 

 case with the Cod-fish, so that the young Gadidce would appear to be not 

 in n position to take solid food at nearly so early a period of their existence 

 us is usual witli teleoslans. ^Ir. Brook also called attention to the influence 

 of temperature on the rate of development of pelagic eggs, and suggested 

 that until we know the temperature at which the various observations are 

 made on these forms no true comparison can be established. 



A paper, by Mr. Tliomas Henry Potts, entitled " Notes on some New 

 Zealand Birds," was afterwards read. It contained chiefly memoranda and 

 field observations on tlie Quail-hawk {Hieracidea Xova-Zealandia), the 

 Harrier {Circus assii)iills), the Owl [Athene Novcc-Zealandia;], the Kaka 

 [Nestor meridionalis], the Sheep-killer (A'. Jw/rttiZfs), the Long-tailed Cuckoo 

 (Eudynamis taitiensis), the Bronze-wing Cuckoo [Chrysococci/x lucidus), 

 the Kingfisher [Halcyon vaijaus), the Huia-bird (Heteralocha acutirostris, 

 Anthoniis iiielaiiocephala, the Wren [ Acanthisitta chluris), and Gerygoite 

 albofrontata. — J. Murie. 



