270 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



pebbles of the kind found, can be obtained, is at the outcrop of the 

 schist formation, a distance of about 4 miles The samples of 

 peat were found to have a distinctly acid reaction, and to this cause is 

 attributed the almost complete absence of moa bones, the only portion 

 found being the decalcified proximal end of a metatarsal bone. A 

 similar deposit of gizzard-stones, with absence of bones, occurs near 

 Mt. Excelsior, on the Mararoa station. Mr. F. R. Chapman has 

 found similar collections of gizzard- stones and sand at Maungatua, a 

 mountain range about 3,000 feet high, some 20 miles to the south- 

 west of Duneclin. 



(•">) " On some Maori bone pendants from Otago," by A. Hamilton. 



(6) "On the cleistogamic flowers of Mdicope simplex" by- Geo. 

 M. Thomson, F.L S. In the ordinary form of this species the flowers 

 open when ready for fertilisation, the 4 petals spreading laterally, 

 and exhibiting 8 stamens in two whorls, of which those opposite the 

 petals are longer, or rather stand at a higher elevation than do the 

 sepaline stamens. In the 4 carpels which are normally produced, the 

 styles are united by their whole length. When botanising on Pigeon 

 Island, Lake Wanaka, two years ago, the author observed that in the 

 numerous plants of Mdicope simplex growing there, the fruit seemed 

 to be developed directly from the flower buds. On examination and 

 comparison of spirit-specimens, it was found that these flowers were 

 truly cleistogamic. The petals did not open in any case; the sepaline 

 stamens were present but with greatly reduced filaments, while those 

 of the petaline whorl were represented by rudiments only. The 

 carpels were all free and their styles greatly shortened so as 

 to remain inside the unopened flowers. No cause was assigned for 

 the prevalence of this cleistogamic form. 



(7) "Notes on sea-fishes," by Geo. M. Thomson, F.L.S. A 

 number of years ago, the late Mr. VV. Arthur entered into communi- 

 cation with various fishermen, harbour masters, and others, with the 

 object of inducing them to keep records of the fish taken by them. 

 On his death his papers were handed over to the author, who 

 extended their range by getting the Marine Department of the 

 Government to issue forms to the various lighthouse keepers round 

 the coast. Duplicates of these forms which had now been accumu- 

 lating for some years were furnished to the author, and the present 

 paper represents a summary of these observations. While many 

 returns had been kept in a very perfunctory manner, others had been 

 carefully filled up. The present paper contained a few points of value 

 in regard to the range of our common sea fish, their food, time of 

 spawning, etc., etc. 



(8) "Notes on some New Zealand Amphipoda and Isopoda," by 

 Charles Chilton, M.A. 



(9) " On the metallurgy of silver," by D. Wilkinson, F.R.S.M. 



(10) Professor Parker exhibited and made remarks upon a 

 species of Branchellion, a leech with external gills belonging to the 

 family Rhyncobdellidse, and occurring as an external parasite on the 

 common skate (Raja nasuta). A single specimen had been found 



