480 Proceedings. 
Mr. Robert Gillies thought that if their meetings were to partake more of 
a conversational character, probably more interest would be taken in them. 
He felt very much interested in the remarks made by the President with 
reference to the science of language, and the enormous strides it had made 
since it was started. There could be very little doubt that it would in future 
greatly revolutionize their ideas with regard to many things in the world. 
With reference to this branch of science, he came across a statement which 
might not have come under the notice of members of the Society. They were 
all aware that the Indo-European languages had mostly two bases, which were 
termed the Turanian and Semitic. The Semitic languages had undergone a 
searching investigation, but hitherto all attempts to trace the foundation of the 
Turanian line had to a great extent failed. A short time ago he read a report 
of an address delivered by the Professor of Japanese in the Paris University. 
In that address the Professor stated that in the Japanese language were to be 
found the germs of the Turanian language, which had been so long sought for. 
1. “On a fish of the genus Bovicthys, caught near Dunedin,” by J. S, 
Webb. 
(ABSTRACT. ) 
Bovicthys, sp. 
Dorsal, 8—19 ; anal, 15. 
Head three times in length, and four times diameter of eye; inter-orbital 
channel one-third of same ; base of first dorsal less than half that of second ; 
pectorals reaching to anal. w 
Upper surface light brown with olive blotches, and dull white patches on 
the sides ; white beneath. 
Stomach contained crustacea (Phronima). 
Rocky pools, Lawyer Head. , 
Differs from B. variegatus chiefly in the number of fin rays. 
Fourth Meetine. 17th September, 1872. 
The Rev. Dr. Stuart, Vice-President, in the chair. 
New members.—James Wilkin, W. T. Sarton G. E. Barton, F. R. 
Chapman. 
1. “On a Supposed Hybrid,” by A. C. Purdie. 
(ABSTRACT.) 
The author said that the subject of his remarks was presented to the 
society by Mr. Jennings as a cross between a cat and an opossum, said to be 
bred by Mr. Jones, of Ballarat, Australia. 
