Papers.

The President said he had received a letter from Dr. Hector containing a series of very interesting ornithological notes made during a voyage to England. (See Transactions, page 199.)

A paper was read by the President from the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, containing remarks upon a large bat that had been seen by him in 1854, which he believed to be a new variety. (See Transactions, page 180.)

Mr. Kirk stated that he had seen a large bat at the Clarence River, but he had been unable to distinguish it from Scotophilus tuberculatus.

The President read a paper entitled “Notes on Gerygone flaviventris.” (See Transactions, page 181.) The paper contained extracts from “The Birds of New Zealand,” and observations in reply to a paper from Mr. Justice Gillies, in last year's volume of Transactions.

A paper entitled “Remarks on Dr. Finsch's Paper on Ornithology” in Vol. VII., of the Transactions, was also read by the President. (See Transactions, page 194.) The paper contained criticisms on Dr. Finsch's views respecting classification, as propounded in a paper read before the Otago Institute.

A discussion ensued, in which the author of the paper and Messrs. Kirk and Graham took part, on the question, “What constitutes a species?” The