418 Proceedings. 



Eighth Meeting. 1st October, 1873. 

 H. J. Tancred, President, in the chair. 



1. " On Harpagornis, an Extinct Genus of Gigantic Raptorial Birds of 

 New Zealand " (Part II., containing Descriptions of the Leg and Wing Bones), 

 by Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.K.S. [Transactions, p. 62.) 



2. "Further Notes on recently-described New Zealand Coleoptera" by 

 C. M. Wakefield. 



Annual General Meeting, bth November, 1873. 



John Inglis in the chair. 



abstract report of the council. 



The Council regret they cannot congratulate the members on the progress 

 made during the past year, for, though the number of members is not materially 

 less, the papers read have been few, and the attendance small. They hope 

 that during the year it may attain to such a position as it should occupy 

 among the scientific societies of New Zealand. 



The number of members is 77. Nine meetings have been held, at which 

 fourteen communications were read, and the average attendance at meetings has 

 been ten. 



The Council desire to record their profound sense of the loss which the 

 Institute has suffered through the death of Dr. A. C. Barker. 



Mr. W. M. Maskell, assisted by other members, has undertaken to write 

 the History of Canterbury, in accordance with a former resolution. 



In July last a valuable " Catalogue of New Zealand Neui'optera " was 

 published by E.. M'Lachlan, F.L.S., in the " Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History," with the express intention of assisting the entomologists of this 

 countiy ; and the Council take this opportunity of expressing their grateful 

 appreciation of Mr. M'Lachlan's disinterested services in the cause of science, 

 and also of making known their opinion that this Catalogue should be 

 re-printed in the next volume of the " Transactions." 



A microscojje has been obtained, and the sum of £10 has been voted for 

 the purchase of slides. The same sum will also be spent on works of natural 

 history. 



The Council make an appeal to educated and professional men to join the 

 society. 



The Treasurer's report shows the receipts during the year to have been 

 .£164 2s. 6d., the expenditure having been £140 12s., leaving a balance of 

 £23 10s. 6d. 



