WeUinrjton Philosophical Society. 545 



(3.) Two specimens recently purchased for the Museum may be said to 

 be intermediate between (1) and (2), They were obtained on the Eimutaka 

 Mountain near Featherston. Both specimens are ahke, and about the usual 

 size. Breast and abdomen pale slaty-grey, back and top of head same 

 colour, but of a lighter shade, almost white in places. Wings and tail 

 white, under surface of wings slaty-grey ; shafts of quills white. 



5. " Keported Capture of a Californian Salmon at Eiverton," by Dr. 

 Hector. 



6. " Fossil Cetaceans," by Dr. Hector. 



ABSTEACT. 



The author describes the remains of seventeen different Cetaceans that 

 had been discovered in the fossil state in New Zealand. One of them is 

 from the Upper Cretaceous ; seven of them from the Lower Eocene ; five 

 from the Upper Eocene ; and four from the Lower Miocene. 



7. " New System of Telegraphic Weather Eeports," by Dr. Hector. 



8. "On a new Theory of the mode by which Photographic Effects are 

 produced with Silver Salts," by W. Skey. {Transactions, p. 403). 



9. A number of interesting exhibits were brought under the notice of mem- 

 bers. Among them were specimens of New Zealand crows, showing abnor- 

 mal colouring ; New Zealand sponges, presented by Mr. J. A. Smith of 

 Napier ; specimens of coal from Coal Creek ; specimens of quartz from 

 Langdon's Eeef, Collingwood Eanges ; Welcome Mine, Eeefton ; Fiery 

 Cross, and Just in Time Mines, Eeefton ; and Alpine Mine, Lyell ; a certifi- 

 cate of the First Order of Merit awarded at the Melbourne Exhibition to the 

 Colonial Museum ; the First Silver Seal for the Colony of New Zealand, 

 defaced by Her Majesty in Council, and presented to the Museum by the 

 Colonial Secretary. 



Dr. Hector said that the sponges exhibited might have a very considerable commercial 

 value, as it had been ascertained that sponges could be propagated and improved by 

 artificial culture. 



61 



