526 Proceedings. 
Firra Meerinc. 2nd September, 1882. 
W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 
1. “ On the Decline of the Hawaiian Race and the peculiar Forms of 
Disease prevalent among them,” by Dr. Hutchinson. 
Sixru Meetinc. 80th September, 1882. 
W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 
New Member.—G. V. Shannon. 
SrvENTH Meertine. 21st October, 1882. 
W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 
New Member.—T. Turnbull. 
l. The society nominated for election an honorary member of the New 
Zealand Institute. 
2. “ Remarks upon the Distribution within the New Zealand Zoological 
Sub-region of the Birds of the Orders Accipitres, Paessres, Scansores, Columbe, 
Galline, Struthiones, and Gralle,” by W. T. L. Travers. (Transactions, p. 
178.) 
This paper discussed the distribution of certain birds in relation to the question of 
the former connection of New Zealand with other islands of the Pacific. 
business of nesting. 
9. ‘ Remarks on some Bones lately discovered by Mr. H. T. Wharton 
in Caves at Highfield, Canterbury," by Dr. Hector. : 
This was a description of a valuable collection of the bones of Aptornis and Dinornis 
found by Mr. Wharton and presented by that gentleman to the Museum. The point of 
interest was the association of these bones with those of the rat, kiwi, kaka and weka, 
suggesting that no great period had elapsed since the deposit took place. 
The President stated that he had some years ago found bones in the Collingwood 
distriet under similar circumstances and had sent them to England, but unfortunately 
they had been lost. 
4. “On a new Mineral belonging to the Serpentine Group," by S. H. 
Cox, F.C.8., F.G.8. (Transactions, p 409.) 
5. “On the Non-metallic Minerals of New Zealand," by S. H. Cox. 
(Transactions, p. 861. 
This is a continuation of the paper read and published last year on the metallic 
minerals by the same author. 
6. Dr. Hector exhibited some views of the comet and a diagram of its orbit, and by the 
aid of a model gave a most lucid and interesting explanation of the phases through which 
it has passed since the 7th September, when it was first observed. He mentioned, as a 
