Wellington Philosophical Society. 523 
The President remarked that persons engaged in testing the properties of plants 
adapted for feeding stock in this colony were engaged in work beneficial to the whole 
community, and therefore he welcomed the paper now contributed by Dr. Curl. At the 
time he observed with regret that no mention was made of the condition under which Dr. 
Curl’s experiments were performed, such as quality of soil, time requisite for the matura- 
tion of the plant, mode in which fed off, and other elements necessary in order to form a 
correct opinion of the value of each kind. Not more than two or three of the species 
mentioned in the paper were adapted for mixed pasturage, although most would doubtless 
be found of value as fodder. He remarked that Agrostis solandri, recommended by Dr. 
Curl, was a collective species, chiefly consisting of two New Zealand grasses, Agrostis 
emula and A. billardieri. Poa aquatica was merely a synonym for Glyceria aquatica, 
although the two are given by the author as distinct plants. Glyceria fluitans was a grass 
of undoubted value, as was proved by the condition of horses and cattle feeding upon it, 
wherever naturalized in the colony. Referring to Dr. Curl’s use of the term ‘“acclima- 
tized,” he stated that a fallacy was involved in the popular acceptation of the term, as 
there was no evidence to show that plants or animals possessed the power of gradual 
adaptation to peculiarities of climate or soil other than those for which they were originally 
tted. This was generally recognized by scientific men, who used the term naturalize 
ou of acclimatized 
4. ** Preliminary Note on the Presence of one or more Hydro-carbons of 
the Benzol Series in the American Petroleum, also in our Petroleums," by 
W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 469.) 
5. “ On a Property possessed by Essential Oils of whitening the Preci- 
pitate produced by mixing a Solution of Mercuro-iodide with one of Mer- 
curie-chloride," by W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 470.) 
6. ** Preliminary Note on the Production of one or more Alkaloids from . 
Fixed Oils, by the Aniline Process," by W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 471.) 
7. “On the Production of Platino-iodides of the Alkaloids,” by W. 
Skey. 
8. “On a further Occurrence of the Australian Tree Swallow 
( Hylochelidon nigricans) in New Zealand," by Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., 
D. Se. (Transactions, p. 860.) 
The author remarked on the extraordinary fact of such a bird performing a journey on 
the wing of upwards of a thousand miles without a break or rest. 
Dr. Hector wished to be informed whether this bird was gregarious in its native 
country, and whether it had come over singly or in flocks ? 
Mr. Martin Chapman gave some interesting partieulars of the breeding habits of the 
tree swallow, as observed by him in Australia, where it is not gregarious like the €— 
He advocated its introduction and naturalization in this country. 
Dr. Buller stated that a flight of these swallows had been seen at Wakapuaka, near 
Nelson, in 1856, when specimens were obtained by Mr. ln one of which is now in the 
ncs useum. 
The President said that he believed the bird waa of more frequent occurrence ia New 
Tana 4h atan 
shot at Auckland some time ago. WA pA olds annes ima 
