Wellington PhilosopJiical Society. 531 



2. "Further Contributions to the Ornithology of New Zealand," by 

 Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D. {Transactions, p. 366.) 



Dr. Newman said he would like to be informed whether the New Zealand harrier was 

 in the habit of catching fish. Dr. BuIIer had referred to its repugnance to water ; but he 

 wished to state that in Hawke Bay District he had frequently found this hawk devouring 

 large eels in the neighbourhood of the swamps. Others had observed the same, and it 

 was evident that this bird, which was constantly hovering about the swamp vegetation, 

 was in the habit of catching eels. As to the kingfisher, he was surprised to hear that 

 Captain Hutton had ever contended that this bh'd did not feed on fish. Everyone who 

 had observed its habits would agree that it was most active in pursuit of small fish. 



Mr. Martin Chapman said that in regard to the kakas which perished in their 

 passage across the Strait, he believed it would be found that it was the lean-conditioned 

 bird, and not the fat one, that succumbed. He instanced the case of wild turkeys in 

 America. They were known sometimes to cross rivers on the wing, and on these occa- 

 sions the thin emaciated birds often fell into the water and were drowned. As to the 

 piscivorous habits of our kingfisher mentioned by Dr. Buller, he could aver from personal 

 observation that the New Zealand bird was an undoubted fish-hunter. He had actually 

 seen one, after dropping a fish that it had captured, return and pick it up again. 



Dr. Buller, in reply, stated that the harrier, like many other birds, is very averse to 

 wetting its plumage, and never hunts in the water. But, being a carrion-feeder, it may 

 constantly be seen hovering over the sea-beach, and devouring the dead bodies of cast up 

 fish, etc. Eels are known to travel considerable distances overland in search of new 

 ponds, and during such migrations would, of course, be exposed to the attacks of the 

 hawk. He thought that the circumstance mentioned by Dr. Newman might be accounted 

 for in that manner, for the helpless eels on dry ground would be very apt to fall a prey to 

 this ever-vigilant hawk. As to the kakas cast ashore in Golden Bay, he could state on 

 the authority of his informant that in every case the birds picked up were excessively fat, 

 and it was a well-known fact that at certain seasons of the year the kakas became so 

 incommoded with fat as to be scarcely capable of fiight. A correspondent informed him 

 that on one of these occasions he actually caught with his hands in the course of a single 

 day eight of these over-fed kakas, as they were positively unable to fly at all. 



Dr. Newman said that his experience of eels was that they only travelled when their 

 pools became dry, and in the district to which he referred the lagoons were always full of 

 water. He thought one of the most interesting facts in New Zealand ornithology, brought 

 out in Dr. Buller's papers, was the frequent recurrence of albinoes. Almost every species 

 showed a tendency in some degree to albinism, and this was certainly a very remarkable 

 and inexplicable thing. 



3. "On Osomose as the Cause of the persistent Suspension of Clay in 

 Water," by W. Skey, Analyst to the Greological Survey Department. 

 [Transactions, p. 485.) 



4. " On the Nature and Cause of Tomlinson's Cohesion Figures," by 

 W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 490.) 



5. "On some New Zealand AjjhroditcB, with Descriptions of supposed 

 new Species," by T. W. Kifk, Assistant in the Colonial Museum. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 397.) 



Mr. Field wished to know whether the beautiful colours mentioned were preserved 

 after death ; and the author stated that the specimens exhibited on the table would prove 

 that they were retained to a great extent. 



