528 Proecedings. 



Mr. Travers said that the first report of this proclivity in the Kea was from the head 

 of Lake Wanaka, but it was discredited. He had been aware of the fact himself, and 

 it was now beyond a doubt. The kaka also fed on flesh, but never attacked the living 

 animal. 



Dr. Newman remarked that it was strange that these birds should prey upon such large 

 animals, when it was considered that before the introduction of sheep they had not pro- 

 bably seen anything larger than a rat. 



2. " On Pituri, a new Vegetable Product that deserves further Investi- 

 gation," by S. M. Curl, M,D. {Transactions, p, 411.) 



Dr. Newman said that very little was known as to the real merit of this plant. It 

 was no doubt, to a certain extent, a stimulant, but he thought a great deal was due to 

 imagination. He could not agree with many of the author's statements as to the power 

 of this product, especially in critical cases of disease. 



Mr. Kirk explained that Dr. Curl only suggested that the plant might prove useful in 

 critical cases, not that it had done so. If what the author said was correct, it would be 

 a most valuable drug to travellers and explorers in New Zealand. 



Mr. Field would like to have the Chairman's opinion as to whether the experiments 

 on animals referred to could be attributed to imagination. 



Dr. Newman said that no doubt the plant had an effect on animals, as it was an 

 unusual food for them. It was only in the case of experiments on human beings that 

 at all reliable results had been obtained, and these latter were to him unsatisfactory. 



3. "Some Eemarks on Dr. Curl's 'Notes on Grasses and Fodder 

 Plants, suitable for Introduction to New Zealand,' " by Henry BlundeU. 



ABSTRACT. 



The author paid a high compliment to Dr. Curl for his work. He 

 thought that though rye and clover were often selected as the best known 

 grasses for the cultivator, the pasture grown from them is mixed with other 

 grasses, owing to the difficulty of getting pure seed. Several grasses thus 

 get root in the ground, and in course of time the pasture, though nominally 

 of one or two varieties, is actually composed of many. The author thinks a 

 variety of food for cattle is most beneficial, if not essential, and says the 

 effect of their food is especially noticeable in dairy produce. In this country 

 PJiormium has a great influence in the flavour of milk, and is largely chewed 

 by cattle, especially the lower end of the leaf. The author has known acres 

 of swamp land to be cleared of Phormium by cattle tearing off the leaves. 

 He says " there is one exotic plant which I think is deserving of more 

 than the passing notice it receives at Dr. Curl's hands in his paper 

 published in Vol. IX. of the Transactions. I allude to the burnet, 

 which grows luxuriantly in swampy soil, and thrives well in soil of 

 a much drier description. Some of it was sown at the rear of the 

 homestead, on a run where it throve wonderfully, but never spread, 

 for the simple reason that the sheep never gave it the chance, for though 

 naturally wild and timid they would brave a good deal to get a taste of the 



