Wellington Philosophical Society, 449 



Sixth Meeting. 15th October, 1884. 

 Mr. Govett, Vice-president, in the chair. 

 New Members. — Dr. Cahill and W. F. Barraud. 



1. " On the Kea or Mountain Parrot," by A. McKay. 



The author, by relating a number of observations, showed that the kea possessed a 

 high degree of intelligence, and that only on the very borders of the region it occupied 

 had this bird acquired the habit of killing and wounding sheep. The author further went 

 on to show that the keas had the power of communicating ideas amongst themselves. 

 Mr. McKay was of the opinion that in consequence of its superior intelligence, and the 

 extent of inaccessible country which it inhabited, there was little probability of its ever 

 being exterminated. An anecdote was related by the author to show the intelligence of 

 the bird, according to which several keas, after a consultation, delegated one bird, twice in 

 succession, to untie the knot in a string which fastened one of their number to a pick- 

 handle. 



2. Mr. E. A. Gibbon (not a member of the Society), then read a paper on Floating Break- 

 waters. He showed various models of contrivances intended to break the force of a heavy 

 sea, and to retard the speed of a vessel running before a gale. The discussion that 

 followed was not altogether favourable to Mr. Gibbon's schemes, and that gentleman 

 admitted that he had not yet proved their practical value by experiments. 



Seventh Meeting. 2,6th November, 1884. 

 Dr. Newman, Vice-president, in the chair. 

 New Members. — Dr. A. Martin, J. D. Treanor, and J. Barnicoat. 



1. " Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand," by A. Eeischek ; com- 

 municated by Dr. Hector. (Transactions, p. 187.) 



2. " Notes on the Dolphins of the New Zealand Seas," by Dr. Hector. 

 (Transactions, p. 207.) 



3. Specimens of Gunpowder manufactured at the mills at Owake, Otago, and pre- 

 sented by Mr. Mackley to the Museum, were exhibited. 



Annual Meeting. 18th February, 1885. 



Dr. Buller, C.M.G., P.B.S., in the chair. 



New Members. — A. Cook, E. Tregear. 



Abstract of Bepobt fob 1884. 

 During the past year the society had held eight general meetings, at which 9 papers 

 on Geology, 8 on Botany, 10 on Zoology, and 5 on Miscellaneous subjects had been read. 

 The re-arrangement of the library had afforded members greater convenience for consult- 

 ing the valuable works now belonging to the society, which would be still further increased 

 when the printed catalogue now beiug prepared of the whole collection was provided. 

 Fourteen members had been elected during the year, making a total of 261 now on the roll. 

 From the Treasurer's statement of accounts, it appears that the receipts for the year, 

 including a balance of £145 Is. lid. brought forward in February, 1884, amounted to 

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