40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



moderate degree of mobility. The upper surface of the bone slopes 

 to the end and is transversely convex. The extremity is expanded 

 at the borders. Beneath are several vascular perforations. 

 Though the specimens are not sufficiently characteristic to deter- 

 mine positively whether they belong to a mammal or a reptile, or 

 whether they even belong together to the same animal, the former 

 one is so peculiar that I am disposed to regard it as representing 

 a genus and species, which may be named Tylosteus ornatus. 



Curious habit of a Snake. Mr. Cope made the following re- 

 marks : 



I had for some time a specimen of Gyclophis sestivus, received 

 from Fort Macon, N. Ca., through the kindness of Dr. Yarrow, 

 living in a wardian case. The slender form of this snake, and 

 its beautiful green and 3'ellow colors, have led to the opinion 

 that it is of arboreal or bush-loving habits. It never exhibited 

 such in confinement, however, and instead of climbing over the 

 Caladia, ferns, etc., lived mostly under ground. It had a curi- 

 ous habit of projecting its head and two or three inches of its 

 body above the ground, and holding them for hours rigidly in a 

 fixed attitude. In this position it resembled very closety a sprout 

 or shoot of some green succulent plant, and might readily be mis- 

 taken for such by small animals. 



Intelligence in Monkeys. I have two species of Cebus in my 

 study, G. capucinus, and a half-grown G. apella. The former 

 displays the usual traits of monkey ingenuity. He is an admirable 

 catcher, seldom missing anything, from a large brush to a grain, 

 using two hands or one. His cage door is fastened by two hooks, 

 and these are kept in their places by nails driven in behind them. 

 He generally finds means sooner or later to draw out the nails, 

 unhook the hooks and get free. He then occupies himself in 

 breaking up various objects and examining their interior appear- 

 ances, no doubt in search of food. To prevent his escape I 

 fastened him by a leather strap to the slats of the cage, but he 

 soon untied the knot, and then relieved himself of the strap by 

 cutting and drawing out the threads which held the flap for the 

 buckle. He then used the strap in a novel way. He was accus- 

 tomed to catch his food (bread, potatoes, fruit, etc.) with his 

 hands, when thrown to him. Sometimes the pieces fell short 

 three or four feet. One day he seized his strap and began to 

 throw it at the food, retaining his hold of one end. He took 

 pretty correct aim, and finally drew the pieces to within reach of 

 his hand. This performance he constantly repeats, hooking and 

 pulling the articles to him in turns and loops of the strap. Some- 

 times he loses his hold of the strap. If the poker is handed him, 

 he uses that with some skill, for the recovery of the strap. When 

 this is drawn in, he secures his food as before. Here is an act of 



[June 25, 



