﻿370 Proceedings. 



had, he remembered, been ah^eady pointed out, but the paper having been 

 mislaid, he was unable to state the name of the author, or in what publication 

 the correction had appeared. He considered that the change of name from 

 Mystacina tuherculata to M. velutina, as proposed by Captain Hutton, was 

 necessary. 



2. " On a New and Rapid Process for the Generation of Sulphuretted 

 Hydrogen Gas for use as a Re-agent in Laboratory Operations," by W. Skey, 

 Analyst to the Geological Survey of New Zealand. (See Transactions, p. 321.) 



Dr. Hector said that those who work in a laboratory would appreciate the 

 great advantage of this process over the old ones. 



3. " On the Geographical and other Features of some Little-known Portions 

 of Wellington Province," by H. C. Field. (See Transactions, p. 128.) 



Dr. Hector described the geology of the country referred to by Mr. Field, 

 and said he considered that large parts of it were well adapted for settlement. 



4. "On the Microscopical Structure of the Egg-shell of the Moa," by 

 Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. (See Transactions, p. 166.) 



Dr. Hector asked whether the structure of the Ostrich egg was known. 



Mr. Hood asked the same question with regard to the egg of J^pyornis, 

 and suggessed that, from its large size, it might be found analogous to that of 

 the Kiwi, and not to that of the Struthious birds. 



Captain Hutton said that the structure of the Ostrich egg was well known. 

 It was something like that of the Moa, but with the outer layer thinner, and 

 the prisms often rhombic. He was not aware that the egg of JEpyornis had 

 ever been examined, and thought the suggestion of Mr. Hood a very good one. 



5. " Notes on the Presence in certain Fibres of a Substance susceptible of 

 some striking Colorific Changes when chemically treated," by W. Skey. 

 (See "Report of Flax Commissioners, 1870-1," p. 92.) 



(abstract.) 

 If Phormium, Manilla, or Sisal fibre be submitted to the action of ordi- 

 nary bleaching agents for a short time, and afterwards treated with alkalies, 

 they immediately turn to a red or brown colour, showing the presence of an 

 oxidizable substance distinct from the fibre. This substance is insoluble in hot 

 or cold water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, or weak hydrochloric acid. That it 

 is not present in such fibres as hemp, flax (linum), cotton, and rheea, is shown 

 by the fact that they do not give this particular reaction. 



The President remarked that the discoveries of Mr. Skey, acting, as they 

 did, differently on different fibres, would be a very valuable means of detecting 

 adulteration. 



6. " On the Microscopic Characters of the Fibres of New Zealand Flax, as 



