428 Proceedings. 



Mr. Travers drew Capfc, Hutton's attention to the fact that Mr, Rochfort 

 had seen newts in a lake on the top of Mount Arthur ; that he had in his 

 garden a carnivorous slug, and he also referred to a red parasite he had seen 

 on a reptile on his station. He thought many distinctive forms of life had 

 been introduced from other countries, but owing to the time required for 

 distribution they were but imperfectly known. 



Dr. Haast would like to know if submergence had only been partial. 

 There was no doubt that New Zealand was originally part of a large continent. 



Captain Hutton felt doubtful about the newts until he had heard further 

 of the matter. 



The President after discussing some of the points raised by Capt. Hutton, 

 said that the Society sbould be congratulated on the paper, which was a 

 practical application of the Darwinian theory. 



2. "On the Birds of the Chatham Islands," by H. H. Travers; "With 

 Introductory Remarks on the Avifauna and Flora of the Islands," by W. T. 

 L. Travers, F.L.S., (See Transactions, p. 212.) 



Mr. J. D. Enys asked if Mr. Travers could account for the gizzard stones 

 of the kiwi being found in the Chathams, if it did not belong to it. 



Mr. Travers said it might have been taken over by the Maoris, but it 

 certainly did not belong to the islands. 



A skeleton of a Wallaby, prepared by Dr. Knox, was exhibited. 



Eighth Meeting, l^th September, 1872. 



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



New memher. — J. B. Bradshaw, M.H.R. 



Publications received since last meeting were on the table. 



1. The President read a letter from Dr. J. E. Gray, expressing his opinion 

 that the Seal described by Dr. Hector in last year's Transactions as the young 

 of the Fur Seal of the West Coast is in reality a different species. Dr. Hector 

 gave reasons why he still adhered to his opinion on the subject, and was 

 supported by Capt. Hutton. 



2. " On the Chief Features of the Vegetation of the District between 

 Maketu and Lake Taupo," by T. Kirk, F.L.S. 



This paper gave an instructive account of the culture of tobacco by the 

 natives in the vicinity of the Hot Springs, and urged the necessity of pre- 

 serving the scanty remains of forest in the district, and of extending them by 

 artificial plantation. 



