Wellington Philosophical Society. 447 



6. Tlie last paper brouglit before the meeting was one by W. L. Buller, 

 F.L.S., containing remarks upon a review of tlie author's Essay on tlie 

 Ornitliology of New Zealand, wbicli appeared in a G-erman periodical, from 

 the pen of Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen. {Transactions, p. 49.) 



Dr. Hector stated that, in order to understand fully this paper of Mr. 

 Buller's, it would be necessary to read also Dr. Knsch's critique, and also a 

 part of the original essay ; this would take a considerable time, and he would 

 therefore move that the paper be considered as read, and that it be printed, 

 so that members could then examine the interesting details of the ornitho- 

 logy of New Zealand at their leisure ; this was the more adAdsable, since the 

 paper contained descriptions of ten new species of birds, and many valuable 

 notes and abstracts, which will be treated in detail in Mr. Buller's large 

 work on the ornithology of New Zealand, about to be published. The motion 

 was agreed to. 



FiPTH Meeting, l^ith Septemler, 1868. 



The Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, F.a.S., in the chair. 



Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed, and other 

 routine business disposed of. 



1. " On the Celtic Origin of the English Vowel Sounds," by the Eight 

 Eeverend C. J. Abraham, Bishop of "Wellington. {Transactions, p. 73.) 



This treatise was discussed at considerable length by several of the 

 members, including Mr. Crawford, Mr. Yf. Pharazyn, Dr. Hector, and 

 Mr. Mantell. 



2. Dr. Hector read a notice of a Swordfish, which had lately been 

 presented by Dr. E. J. Knox to the Museum. The specimen, admirably 

 prepared by Dr. Knox, was exhibited. 



Abstract. 



The fish had been stranded on the West Coast, in June, 1867. Dr. 

 Hector explained that the specimen belonged to the genus Sistiophorus, and 

 not, as was supposed, to the 3^iphias, the swordfish of the northern hemi- 

 sphere, which is characterized by the absence of ventral fins. 



Mr. Travers gave a very interesting account of several rare species of 

 fish which have been found on our coasts, such as Banks' Oar fish, of the 

 genus Gymnetrus. One of these, the fourth of the kind ever described, was 

 cast ashore in Nelson, and fragments saved by him are now in the British 

 Museum : it was of an extraordinary form ; fifteen feet in length, and about 

 twice the width of the blade of an oar, and almost as thin. He exhibited 

 a specimen of Gallus, from Saltwater Creek, Canterbury, the second 

 specimen ever found ; and described some of the remarkable features of 



