456 Proceedings, 



2. "On two newly-discovered curious Cryptogams, of the orders Hepa- 

 ticcB and Lichenes, viz., Metzgeria rugulosa, Col., and Bcsomyces heteromorphus, 

 Nyl. ;" exhibiting also several specimens of the same, by W. Colenso, 

 F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 368.) 



Third Okdinary Meeting. 2th August, 1880. 

 The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 



1. "On the Vegetable Food of the Ancient New Zealanders before 

 Cook's Visit." Part I., by W. Colenso, F.L.S. [Transactions, p. 2.) 



Mr. Colenso exhibited several indigenous specimens of the classes Arachnida and 

 Insecta ; among them were some remarkably fine ones of the genera Macrothele, Dein- 

 acrida, and Bacillus. 



Fourth Ordinary Meeting. ISth September, 1880. 

 The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 



1. "On the Vegetable Food of the Ancient Maoris, before the Visit of 

 Captain Cook." Part II., by W. Colenso, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 18.) 



Specimens of sundry indigenous vegetable articles of food, both raw and dressed, 

 were shown in illustration of this paper. Among them were (1) The superior quality fern 

 root Pteris esculenta, used only by chiefs, containing a very large percentage of fecula, 

 obtained from the interior a hundred miles away ; and (2) Slices of thick cake or bread, 

 made of the meal obtained from the berries (drupce) of the Hinau tree (Elaocarpiis 

 dentatus). 



Some interesting fossils were exhibited of teeth of several genera of fishes of the 

 family SquaUda;, viz., Carcharias, Lamna, Oxyrhina, Notidanus, etc., and of spines of 

 various fishes of the family of Raiidce — all in excellent preservation. These were obtained 

 from near Te Aute from the Eocene strata. 



Fifth Ordinary Meeting. 11^^ October, 1880. 

 Mr. H. E. Holder in the chair. 



1. " Life and its Physical Correlations," illustrating the same by 

 references to several coloured drawings, by Dr. Spencer. (Transactions 

 p. 109.) 



2. "On the Ferns of Scinde Island (Napier)," partiaUy illustrating the 

 same with specimens of the rarer ferns from that locality, by W. Colenso, 

 F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 370.) 



Sixth Ordinary Meeting. Qth November, 1880. 



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



1. " Contributions towards a Better Knowledge of the Maori Eace, Part 

 III., on their Poetical Genus," by "W. Colenso, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 57.) 



