OTAGO INSTITUTE. 



First Meeting. 6th April, 1881. 

 Dr. Hocken, Vice-President, in the chair. 

 New Member. — David White. 



1. Professor Parker exhibited aud made remarks upon the skin and skeleton of the 

 Takahe (Notornis mantelli), the property of Mr. J. Connor, manager to Captain Hankinson, 

 of Lynwood, Te Anau, where the bird was recently killed. 



Mr. F. Chapman communicated some particulars as to the occurrence of Notornis, 

 furnished to him by Mrs. Cameron, of Centre Island, Foveaux Strait. This lady stated 

 that two specimens were killed and eaten by Maoris in 1878, who described them to her 

 as resembling the pukeko, but of the size of a turkey. She had offered £20 for a specimen, 

 but without success. 



Dr. Hector said that as three specimens of the bird had now been obtained from 

 widely separated localities, he thought it highly probable that others would be found. 

 He mentioned having heard, in 1862, near the Matukituki Eiver, a loud booming noise 

 followed by a piercing shrill whistle, probably made by some large bird (possibly Aptornis) . 

 The noise had been heard again this year at the same place by one of his assistants. 



2. Dr. Hector exhibited and made remark upon living specimens of the South Island 

 tuatara [Sphenodon gilntheri). 



3. Professor Parker exhibited a simple form of dissecting microscope, made by Mr. 

 Bourne, Assistant in the Museum. 



4. " The Cause of Error in executing Minor Triangulation with Instru- 

 ments of small Diameter," by J. Aitken Connell. 



Second Meeting. 21st June, 1881. 

 G. M. Thomson, President, in the chair. 

 New Member. — G. Anderson. 



1. " The Birds of Macquarrie Island," by Professor Scott. 



2. " On a new Species of Cotida,'" by D. Petrie. {Transactions, p. 362). 

 The President in commenting on this paper observed that the new species (C manio- 



toto) seemed to him to furnish a striking example of degeneration of structure. 



3. " On a new Method of preserving Cartilaginous Skeletons and other 

 soft Animal Structures," by Professor Parker. {Transactions, p. 258). 



The paper was illustrated by skeletons of the Great Blue Shark [Carcharodon), Skate, 

 etc., and intestine of skate, prepared by Mr. Jennings. 

 63 



