Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/481

Rh 6. The last paper brought before the meeting was one by W. L. Buller, F.L.S., containing remarks upon a review of the author's Essay on the Ornitliology of New Zealand, which appeared in a German periodical, from the pen of Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen. (Transactions, p. 49.)

Dr. Hector stated that, in order to understand fully this paper of Mr. Buller's, it would be necessary to read also Dr. Finsch's critique, and also a part of the original essay; this would take a considerable time, and he would therefore move that the paper be considered as read, and that it be printed, so that members could then examine the interesting details of the ornithology of New Zealand at their leisure; this was the more advisable, since the paper contained descriptions of ten new species of birds, and many valuable notes and abstracts, which will be treated in detail in Mr. Buller's large work on the ornithology of New Zealand, about to be published. The motion was agreed to.

Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed, and other routine business disposed of.

1. "On the Celtic Origin of the English Vowel Sounds," by the Right Reverend C. J. Abraham, Bishop of Wellington. (Transactions, p. 73.)

This treatise was discussed at considerable length by several of the members, including Mr. Crawford, Mr. W. Pharazyn, Dr. Hector, and Mr. Mantell.

2. Dr. Hector read a notice of a Swordfish, which had lately been presented by Dr. F. J. Knox to the Museum. The specimen, admirably prepared by Dr. Knox, was exhibited.

The fish had been stranded on the West Coast, in June, 1867. Dr. Hector explained that the specimen belonged to the genus Histiophorus, and not, as was supposed, to the Xiphias, the swordfish of the northern hemisphere, which is characterized by the absence of ventral fins.

Mr. Travers gave a very interesting account of several rare species of fish which have been found on our coasts, such as Banks' Oar fish, of the genus Gymnetrus. One of these, the fourth of the kind ever described, was cast ashore in Nelson, and fragments saved by him are now in the British Museum: it was of an extraordinary form; fifteen feet in length, and about twice the width of the blade of an oar, and almost as thin. He exhibited a specimen of Gallus, from Saltwater Creek, Canterbury, the second specimen ever found; and described some of the remarkable features of