pape Bea ali 
Auckland Institute. 555 
had to deposit itself on the ground, and the circle was the most easy shape 
it could assume. If this supposition be correct, this Passiflora affords an 
example of a plant availing itself of gravitation to accommodate its growth. 
The Centipede. 
Until I saw the contrary, I was not aware that this insect had any power 
of progression except by the use of its many legs. 
One evening I found a centipede climbing the wall of an old room, it was 
of a yellowish-brown colour, about five inches long, and very thin. Brush- 
ing it down, I was about to crush it under my boot, when the creature clapt 
its head to its tail, formed a circle, and sprang a distance of 8 feet. In 
three bounds it cleared 10 feet, and escaped between floor and skirting 
before I could overtake it. 
Artesian Wells inverted. 
Water in an artesian well comes to the surface when an aperture is pro- 
vided through a water-tight stratum which has kept it down. 
At the request of two Highway Boards, I inverted this salle. sunk 
through a water-tight stratum, and found below a porous one, which has 
provided drainage for the heaviest rainfalls. This has been done at One- 
hunga and Epsom, both voleanic districts. Depth of wells, 8 feet, 20 feet, 
and 84 feet, filled to the top with large stones. 
The Weka. ; 
It is refreshing to find that some of our indigenous birds thrive under 
the altered circumstances produced by civilization. The weka or Maori 
hen is an instance; twenty years ago, it was a very rare bird in the wooded 
districts north of Waikato. In the clearings of Waiuku and Pukekoke its 
evening cries show that though seldom seen the bird is plentiful. TwiceI — 
have lately heard one at Remuera. I do not know the habits of the hunt, 
but it seems to follow settlement. 
4, ‘On the Percentage of Citric Acid obtained from Limes grown in 
Auckland and Tahiti,” by J. A. Pond. (Transactions, p. 405). 
5. * Translation of the Maori Tradition of Maui,” by F. E. Maning. 
6. “On the Shore of the Unknown,” by E. A. Mackechnie. 
Annvat Generat Mexerinc. 21st February, 1882. 
T. Peacock, President, in the chair. 
