AiicJdaiul Institute. 553 



4. " Tewkesbury," by J. Adams, B.A. 



This was a review of the period of English History immediately following the battle 

 of Tewkesbm'y. 



5. Dr. J. L. Campbell read some interesting personal reminiscences of the early 

 history of Aiickland, entitled " Auckland in 1840, and how we lived then," and " Auck- 

 land's first native alarm, an episode of January, 1841." 



Fifth Meeting. 22nd October, 1877. 

 E. C. Barstow, President, in the chair. 

 New Members.— W. Felldn, F.E.G.S., A. Heslop, A. Spicer, T. Whitson. 



1. " Descriptions of new Species of Coleoptera,'" by Captain T. Broun. 

 This paper dealt exclusively with beetles of the families ScapMdUdce, Histeridce, 



Bostrichldce, Ptinida, Drilidce, Diaperidce, Ceramhycidce, Lamiadce, and Chrysomelidce. 

 Two genera and nineteen species were indicated as new. Some interesting information 

 as to the habits of three species of Bostrichidce was also given, and the author drew 

 attention to the serious nature of their ravages in Fagus timber. 



2. " Notes on the Aplwdiadce of New Zealand," by Capt. T. Broun. 

 This family of beetles was stated to have seven representatives in New Zealand- — two 



of which were now described for the first time. All the specimens of the five species 

 collected by the author were found under stones and logs, and were certainly not 

 coprophagous in their habits as is uniformly the case v/ith the European sjDecies. 



3. "Descriptions of two new Mollusks from Auckland Harbour," by 

 T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 



The species described were Fleurohranclms ornatus and Aclesia glauca. Coloured 

 drawings of both were exhibited. 



4. "Notes on a branched Nikau Tree," by S. Percy Smith. [Transac- 

 tions, p. 357.) 



5. " On the Disappearance of the Small Birds of New Zealand," by D. 

 C. Wilson. [Transactions, p. 289.) 



Mr. Fii-th entirely agreed with the remarks made by the author in reference to the 

 operations of the Acclimatization Societies. Of late years quite a howl had been raised 

 against the Auckland Society for its introduction of sparrows, greenfinches, chaffinches, 

 etc., and it had been even roundly stated that the skylark had turned out an undesirable 

 colonist. He had no sympathy with such statements ; and believed that they rested on 

 very slender foundations. He would admit that at a certain season of the year the 

 sparrows and chaffinches might take a little grain, or that the blackbirds might help 

 themselves to strawberries and cherries ; but the fact remained that for eight months 

 out of the twelve neither grain nor friiit could be obtained, and that then the birds must 

 depend on insects for their existence. The small amount of evil done was conspicuous, 

 and was consequently talked about and magnified, while the much larger amount of 

 good performed was in a great measure hidden from view, and as a rule altogether 

 escaped notice. Some years ago a, similar outcry was set up in England, and by means 



t3 



