Nelson Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 23, 1890, Unnumbered Page

Nelson Philosophical Society. First Meeting: 4th March, 1890. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. Exhibits.—The Curator exhibited specimens of larva of Eristalis, beetle (Othophagus granulatus), and humble-bee (Bombus terrestris); also twelve Poonah figures, and a number of Indian curios, presented by Colonel Farrington; sand-plover, desert-chat, male and female wheatears, a little grebe, all from Palestine; an ibis, from New Guinea; a Rhamphocelus jacopa and a Dendrochelidon mysticalis, from Borneo, presented by the President; a duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus), from Tasmania, presented by Mr. A. S. Atkinson; fossils from Awatere, presented by the Curator. Papers.—1. “On a Specimen of the Great Ribbon-fish (Re-galecus argenteus) taken in Nelson Harbour,” by R. I. Kingsley. (Transactions, vol. xxii., p. 333.) 2. “Notes on Blights,” by James Hudson, M.B. (Transactions, p. 111.) The author exhibited two specimens of blight—Dactylopius calceolariæ and Lecanium hispidum.

Second Meeting: 7th July, 1890. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. Exhibits.—Specimen of Burmese carving, presented by Mr. Snodgrass; eight volumes, some scientific instruments (prism, air-pumps, &c.), and two frames of Egyptian photographs, presented by the late Hon. Secretary, Dr. Coleman; a catfish, by Mr. McArtney; specimen of John Dory (Zeus faber), presented by the Curator. The Curator also exhibited a Fijian carved battle-axe; and the “Report of Observations of Eclipse of the Sun,” from the Lick Observatory, by Professor Holden. New Member.—W. E. Fleming.

Third Meeting: 1st September, 1890. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. New Members.—Revs. W. Evans and F. W. Isitt. Exhibits.—Specimens of Gorgonidæ, or marine tree, from Big Bay, South Island, exhibited by Messrs. Lukins and Marris; hæmatite-iron pot from Parapara, presented by Mr. Washbourne; a number of fossil leaves in sandstone from the Port Hills, by Mr. T. B. Huffam; and stuffed specimens of Hæmatopus longirostris, or pied oyster-catcher, by Master Kempthorne. The Hon. Curator reported that a new fern had been discovered by Mr. J. Campbell, of Nelson, and a full description of it, by Mr. Kirk, would be available in a short time. Papers.—1. “Notes on Sceloglaux albifacies, the Laughing Owl of New Zealand,” by R. I. Kingsley. (Transactions, p. 190.) A specimen of this bird, stuffed, which was captured at the Tadmor, was exhibited, and presented to the Museum.

Annual Meeting: 11th November, 1890. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. New Members.—Messrs. Greenwood and L. R. Turnbull.