Otago Institute. 543 



Captain Hutton pointed out that the principal items of interest in the 

 matter were contained in the fact of rats having been found buried in the cave 

 in such a position as to lead to the belief that they were contemporaries of 

 the birds found mixed up with those of the moa in the cave. Had the matter 

 been new to him he would have thought the evidence conclusive that the 

 moa, rats, and ducks had lived together. He thought it probable that the 

 remains of the rats found were those of the brown rat introduced by the 

 Europeans, as it was known that the black rat introduced by the Maoris did 

 not feed upon flesh j and he therefore did not think the bones found in the 

 cave could have been gnawed by that species. Altogether, he considered the 

 evidence supplied by this cave the strongest yet adduced in support of the 

 belief that the extinction of the moa was but of recent date. 



3. "Description of a new Species o^ Actinia {A. thompsoni),^^ by Professor 

 M. Coughtrey. [Transactions, p. 280.) 



4. " Descriptions of two new Species oi Ajplysiaj'^ by Captain F. W. Hutton, 

 C.M.Z.S. {Transactions, p. 279.) 



Sixth Meeting. lO^A August, 1874. 

 James M'Kerrow in the chair. 

 Xew members, — Dr. Cole, W. Conyers, G. Miller, H. F. Hardy. 



1. " The Mythology and Traditions of the Maori in New Zealand, Part H.," 

 by the Kev. J. F. H. Wohlers. {Transactions, pp. 15 and 41.) 



2. " On some coDimon Causes of Consumption in Otago," by Robert H. 

 Bakewell, M.D. 



The author classed his subject under three heads : — 1. The breathing of 

 impure air j 2. Mental depression ; 3. Over education or " cram." He referred 

 to the great want of proper ventilation in the majority of houses and schools 

 in Dunedin, and gave some interesting particulars. 



The chairman remarked that the members had beard a very able and 

 practical paper, and suggested that some observations upon it would be 

 desirable. 



Mr. Johnston said that with regard to " cram," he would ask the lecturer 

 what he considered a fair day's work for a child % 



Dr. Bakewell replied that much would depend upon the previous health 

 and constitution of the child j there could be no fixed rule for it. 



.Mr. Johnston fully agreed with the lecturer that some steps should be 

 taken to prevent children being crammed with excessive learning, and also to 

 secure proper ventilation. 



Mr. Stout was not prepared to deal with the medical part of the paper, 



