47 



Lower Waikato, — these objections were entirely obviated on the theory 

 now advanced, which afforded a striking instance of the support rendered 

 by one bi-anch of scientific research to another. 



2. " On the Sailing Flight of the Albatros, in reply to J. S. Webb," 

 by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. (See Transactions.) — Read by the 

 Secretary, in the unavoidable absence of the author. — The writer pointed 

 out the errors into which Mr. Webb had fallen, and strengthened his 

 former conclusions by means of the formula furnished by that gentleman. 



3. " On certain changes in the Habits of Rats, at Raglan ;" communi- 

 cated in a letter from Captain Johnstone to Captain F. W. Hutton, was 

 read by the Secretary. 



"At this season of the year there is a sort of annual migration of 

 I'ats, where there are uncviltivated lands in the neighboiirhood of houses. 

 This year the migration is excessive, both in the country and in the 

 village of Raglan. 



" The habits of the rat have greatly changed since its introduction. 

 It is amphibious. At low-water they go to eat shell fish on a rock near 

 here, and when the tide rises swim back to the land. They have almost 

 extirpated the delicious little cray-fish {Parane'phro'ps), which twenty 

 years ago were, as I well remember, plentiful in my creek. Even the 

 fresh water mussels {TJnio) are not safe from them, as they dive for them 

 and open them on the bank. The climate is wet and the ground hard, 

 so instead of burrows they make nests in trees and hedges. Some time 

 ago, Mr. J. Graham of Raglan, showed me a perfect " rattery " in a 

 thorn hedge in the village. There were from fifteen to twenty large nests, 

 into which it was necessary to insert a pitchfork to eject the occupants, 

 in order to show that they were not birds' nests. 



"Te Haroto, Raglan, 4th May, 1870." 



Mr. Kirk remarked, that in addition to the Brown or !N'orway rat 

 (J/ws decwmamis), another species which at present he had been unable 

 to identify, was abundantly naturalized at Great Omaha ; it was distin- 

 guished by its lighter colour, larger size, large round ears, and remarkably 

 long tail. The two kinds were often trapped together, when the differ- 

 ences were at once noticed. There was some reason to suppose that the 

 rat referred to by Captain Johnstone was not the ordinary form of the 

 common Brown rat, but a strongly marked variety. 



