524 Proceedings. 



successfully cultivated in Ireland and in parts of England for some years — tliat it is 

 much relished by horses, etc., and yields, according to Mr. Christy, as much as 80-120 

 tons to the acre. It will grow upon dry soil even when poor and unsheltered. It must, 

 however, be kept free from weeds, and the gi-ound must be well manured. This plant is 

 not to be confounded with Symphytum officinale, the common comfrey of Britain, which 

 is quite worthless. In addition to its other recommendations it is said to be preventive 

 of fever, lung, and foot and mouth diseases. Mr. Holroyd's' pamphlet is published by F. 

 Cunningham and Co., of Sydney, and Messrs T. Christy and Co., of Fenchurch Street, 

 London, will supply plants. 



Dr. Hector said that Mr. Ludlam, from enquiries in England, had thought it desirable 

 to send out root cuttings of this plant, which were on their way. 



8. "Notes ou three dried Specimens of Matai (Podocarpus sjncata)," by 

 T. Kirk, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 417.) 



These specimens were collected by Mr. Seymour, M.H.E., and the paper went to 

 show that the author did not consider there was yet evidence to prove more than one 

 kind of this tree. Although different in appearance, they were the same. 



Mr. Seymour still thought there must be two kinds of this timber, on account of 

 difference in value, and he would endeavour to obtain further evidence to prove this. He 

 did not think that age alone could cause the difference, as supposed by Mr. Kirk. 



A long discussion ensued, in which Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Higginson, Mr. Coleman 

 Phillips, and others took part, on the relative value of the white and yellow pine, most of 

 the speakers bearing testimony to the superiority of the yellow over the white ; Mr. Kirk, 

 however, believing that they were only different forms of the same tree, there being no 

 botanical difference by which they could be separated. 



Dr. Hector hoped that they would soon have Mr. Erk's promised paper ou these 

 pines, and remarked that this discussion only showed how necessary it was to abandon 

 all popular names in favour of scientific terms founded on the observed characters of 

 these trees. 



Third Meeting. 18th August, 1877. 



W. T. L. Travers, M.H.E., F.L.S. , President, in the chair. 



New Members. — B. T. Chaytor, Robert Govett. 



1. "Remarks as to the Cause of the Warmer CHmate which existed in 

 high Northern Latitudes during former Geological Periods," by W. T. L, 

 Travers, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 459.) 



ABSTRACT. 



* This paper was a review of the progress recently made in our knowledge of the 

 subject, and especially the bearing of Nasmyth and Carpenter's examination of the moon's 

 surface, and the work by Mattieu Williams on the "Fuel of the Sun." The author 



* The author desires it to be stated that, since reading the above paper, he has 

 found that somewhat analogous views, with reference to the cause of the former warmer 

 climate in Arctic latitudes, had been expressed by Ernst Haeckel. — Vide " History of 

 Creation," vol. I., chap. siii. 



