Wellington Philosophical Society. ' 427 



Sixth Meeting. 4:th September, 1872. 

 Dr. Hector, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



iTew? 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 III., by ^ T. L. 

 Travers, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 41.) 



2. " A Description of the Earnsclough Moa Cave," by the Hon. Capt. 

 Fraser, F.RG.S. (See Transactions, p. 102.) 



3. The President read "Notes by Dr. BuUer 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 Belations of the New Zealand Fauna," by Capt. 

 F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S. (See Transactions, p. 227.) 



Part only of this paper was read, and discussion was deferred tiU next 

 meeting. 



Seventh Meeting. Wth September, 1872. 

 Dr. Hector, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



1. " On the Geographical Belations of the New Zealand Fauna," by Capt. 

 F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S. (See Transactions, p. 227.) 



This was the concluding part of the paper begun at the last meeting of 

 the Society. 



