Wellington Philosophical Society. 427 
Sixta Meerine. 4th September, 1872. 
Dr. Hector, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 
New member.—F. M. Betts. 
Several publications received for the library since the last meeting were 
laid upon the table. 
The President exhibited several specimens of towelling, made by Mr. 
Forbes, of Arbroath, from pure Phormium, and pointed out the great advance 
which had been made during the last six months. 
1. “ On the Life and Times of Te Rauparaha,” Chapter IIL, by W. T. L. 
Travers, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 41.) 
2. “A Description of the Earnsclough Moa Cave,” by the Hon. Capt. 
Fraser, F.R.G.S. (See Transactions, p. 102.) 
3. The President read “ Notes by Dr. Buller on the New Zealand Hawk,” 
which had been contributed in a letter to the “Ibis,” a London scientific 
journal. In it Dr. Buller asserts his belief that there are in reality in New 
Zealand two distinct species of hawks, resembling each other in plumage in - 
both the young and adult states, but differing appreciably in size. This had 
been questioned by Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen, and Dr. Buller gave his 
argument in support of his theory. He also says “with regard to the data 
furnished in Capt. Hutton’s catalogue, I would simply remark that there is no 
evidence whatever of the sex having been, in a single case, determined by 
dissection.” 
With reference to this Capt. Hutton remarked that the specimens he had 
reported on were marked by Dr. Buller himself, who probably had made a 
mistake in the symbols commonly used for distinguishing the sexes. 
4. “On the Geographical Relations of the New Zealand Fauna,” by Capt. 
F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.8. (See Transactions, p. 227.) 
Part only of this paper was read, and discussion was deferred till next 
meeting. 
SEVENTH Meetine. 11th September, 1872. $ 
Dr. Hector, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 
1. “On the Geographical Relations of the New Zealand Fauna,” by Capt. 
F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.8. (See Transactions, p. 227.) 
This was the concluding part of the paper begun at the last meeting of 
the Society. 
