Wellington Philosophical Society. 545 
(3.) Two specimens recently purchased for the Museum may be said to 
be intermediate between (1) and (2). They were obtained on the Rimutaka 
Mountain near Featherston. Both specimens are alike, and about the usual 
size. Breast and abdomen pale slaty-grey, back and top of head same | 
colour, but of a lighter shade, almost white in places. Wings and tail 
white, under surface of wings slaty-grey ; shafts of quills white. 
5. “ Reported Capture of a Californian Salmon at Riverton,” by Dr. 
Hector. 
6. ‘ Fossil Cetaceans,” by Dr. Hector. 
ABSTRACT. 
The author describes the remains of seventeen different Cetaceans that 
had been discovered in the fossil state in New Zealand. One of them is 
from the Upper Cretaceous ; seven of them from the Lower Eocene; five 
from the Upper Eocene; and four from the Lower Miocene. 
7. ‘New System of Telegraphic Weather Reports,” by Dr. Hector. 
8. “On a new Theory of the mode by which Photographic Effects are 
produced with Silver Salts,” by W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 403). 
9. A number of interesting exhibits were brought under the notice of mem- 
bers. Among them were specimens of New Zealand crows, showing abnor- 
mal colouring ; New Zealand sponges, presented by Mr. J. A. Smith of 
Napier ; ‘specimens of coal from Coal Creek ; specimens of quartz from 
Langdon’s Reef, Collingwood Ranges; Welcome Mine, Reefton; Fiery 
Cross, and Just in Time Mines, Reefton ; and Alpine Mine, Lyell; a certifi- 
cate of the First Order of Merit awarded at the Melbourne Exhibition to the 
Colonial Museum; the First Silver Seal for the Colony of New Zealand, 
defaced by Her Majesty in Council, and presented to the Museum by the 
Colonial Secretary. 
Dr. Hector said that the sponges exhibited might have a very considerable commercial 
value, as it had been ascertained that sponges could be propagated and improved by 
artificial culture. 
