Wellington Philosophical Society. 531 
2. “Further Contributions to the Ornithology of New Zealand,” by 
Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D. (Transactions, p. 366.) 
Dr. Newman said he would like to be informed whether the New Zealaud harrier was 
in the habit of catching fish. Dr. Buller had referred to its repugnance to water; but he 
wished to state that in Hawke Bay District he had frequently found this hawk devouring 
large eels in the neighbourhood of the swamps. Others had observed the same, and it 
was evident that this bird, which was constantly hovering about the swamp vegetation, 
was in the habit of catching eels, As to the kingfisher, he was surprised to hear that 
Captain Hutton had ever contended that this bird did not feed on fish. Everyone who 
had observed its habits would agree that it was most active in pursuit of small fish. 
Mr. Martin Chapman said that in regard to the kakas which perished in their 
passage across the Strait, he believed it would be found that it was the lean-conditioned 
bird, and not the fat one, that succumbed. He instanced the case of wild turkeys in 
America. They were known sometimes to cross rivers on the wing, and on these occa- 
sions the thin emaciated birds often fell into the water and were drowned. As to the 
piscivorous habits of our kingfisher mentioned by Dr. Buller, he could aver from personal 
observation that the New Zealand bird was an undoubted fish-hunter. He had actually 
seen one, after dropping a fish that it had captured, return and pick it up again. 
Dr. Buller, in reply, stated that the harrier, like many other birds, is very averse to 
wetting its plumage, and never hunts in the water. But, being a carrion-feeder, it may 
constantly be seen hovering over the sea-beach, and devouring the dead bodies of cast up 
fish, ete. Eels are known to travel considerable distances overland in search of new 
ponds, and during such migrations would, of course, be exposed to the attacks of the 
hawk. He thought that the circumstance mentioned by Dr. Newman might be accounted 
for in that manner, for the helpless eels on dry ground would be very apt to fall a prey to 
this ever-vigilant hawk. As to the kakas cast ashore in Golden Bay, he could state on 
the authority of his informant that in every case the birds picked up were excessively fat, 
and it was a well-known fact that at certain seasons of the year the kakas became so 
incommoded with fat as to be scarcely capable of flight. A correspondent informed him 
that on one of these occasions he actually caught with his hands in the course of a single 
day eight of these over-fed kakas, as they were positively unable to fly at all. 
Dr. Newman said that his experience of eels was that they only travelled when their 
pools became dry, and in the district to which he referred the lagoons were always full of 
water. He thought one of the most interesting facts in New Zealand ornithology, brought 
out in Dr. Buller’s papers, was the frequent recurrence of albinoes. Almost every species 
showed a tendency in some degree to albinism, and this was certainly a very remarkable 
and inexplicable thing. 
8. “On Osomose as the Cause of the persistent Suspension of Clay in 
Water,” by W. Skey, Analyst to the Geological Survey Department. 
Comm p. 485.) 
4. “ On the Nature and Cause of Tomlinson' s Cohesion Figures," by 
b P ae: (Transactions, p. 490.) 
* On some New Zealand Aphrodite, with Descriptions of supposed 
new pode by T. W. Kirk, Assistant in the Colonial Museum. ro 
actions, p. 897.) 
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after death; and th »xhibited o i Le prove 
het 4k hd d NA uh edad CT Tio 
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