l86 TiMEHRI. 



having the cylindrical tail. The other specimen was 

 nearly three feet longer than the European otter and was 

 obtained from Tapacooma Lake by a Chinaman named 

 Mr. Cheong. It was called the wing-tailed otter, and a 

 chara6leristic of it was the head, the skull being elon- 

 gated and the nostril entirely hairy, different from the 

 ordinary type of otter. Mr. Quelch also exhibited a 

 mount of the common woods of the Colony. 

 The meeting then terminated. 



Meeting held February ijih, i8g6, — His Excellency 

 Cavendish Boyle, C.M.G., President, in the chair. 

 Members present 22. 



Ele6lions. — Associates : Messrs. S. Wreford and C. 

 Buie. 



In the absence of the Treasurer, the Secretary brought 

 forward the ; Financial Statement for 1895, which had 

 been audited by two Directors, in accordance with the 

 By-Laws, On the motion of Mr. T. Daly, seconded by 

 Mr. A. Duncan, it was unanimously adopted. 



The Secretary then moved that the surplus funds, 

 amounting to $1,096 05, be handed over to the Dire6lors 

 to be used in accordance with the By-Laws in such 

 manner as they considered most conducive to the interest 

 iand objects of the Society. This having been seconded 

 by Mr. Luke M. Hill, was carried unanimously. 

 ' In connection with Mr, Chamberlain's despatch on 

 Mutual Trade between British Possessions, the Secretary 

 [read a further communication from the Government, and 

 also a report from the Commercial Committee, to which it 

 " had been referred, stating " that the Committee have re- 



