538 Zoological Society, 



a conformation cannot be trusted as a specific character. The animal 

 is a dark purplish brown. — W. J. B. 



Mr. Yarrell exhibited a British example of the Motacilla alba of 

 Linnaeus, which had been shot at Kingsbury. Two pairs of this 

 species of Wagtail were seen by Mr. Bond near the reservoir in the 

 early part of the present month, and, although they were very shy, 

 that gentleman, who furnished Mr. Yarrell with the specimen ex- 

 hibited, succeeded in shooting three of them, two males and one 

 female. 



M. Leonard read a paper on the intelligence of animals, which he 

 illustrated by means of two pointer dogs which he had trained for 

 the purpose. 



To show that these animals possessed the power of comparison, he 

 placed different objects upon the ground, such as a glove, a roll of 

 paper, a small box, &c, and having kept similar objects himself, he 

 showed them one after another to either of the dogs, and desired the 

 animal to fetch that which was like it from the ground. The dogs 

 performed this task correctly, and all others which they were desired. 



Cards, with numbers from 1 to 9 painted upon them, were placed 

 upon the ground, and the dogs fetched any particular number they 

 were bidden : a number brought, M. Leonard ordered the dog to 

 take back again and exchange for another number, and at the same 

 time to deposit it in the place of that number. The dogs also se- 

 lected a card of a particular colour, when desired, from among many 

 of different colours. Pieces of bread were placed on the ground, and 

 in placing them, their master called them by the names of different 

 numbers in an irregular manner, and afterwards ordered the dogs to 

 fetch the piece of bread he had called a certain number. These and 

 various other experiments (some with pieces of meat) were all per- 

 formed correctly, and tended to show the great intelligence of the 

 animals and the control which their master had obtained over them. 



The dogs were named Phylax and Braque, and either dog, upon his 

 name being called, performed the task he was ordered ; but one of 

 them appeared to be more quick than the other. 



June 8. — William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Read a paper by G. B. Sowerby, Jun., Esq., entitled "Descrip- 

 tions of eight new species of the genus Ranella," in the collection 

 of Mr. Cuming. 



1. Ranella vexillum, Conch. Illustr., f. 3. R. testd ovali, ven- 

 tricosd, subacuminatd, pallide brunned, transverse striatd, fasciis 

 rufescentibus elevatis noduliferis cinctd ; varicibus irregulari- 

 bus, decumbentibus, latis ; aperturd magna albd, inths griseo fas- 

 ciatd, postice vix canaliferd, antice in canalem brevem rectum, 

 latum terminante ; labio interno subltevi decumbente, dentibus Ice- 

 vibus paululilm incrassato ; labio externo subexpanso, leviter undu- 

 lato, dentibus fere obsoletis intus incrassato. 



Long. 3-40 ; lat. 2 poll. 



Hab. ad (Chiloe) Conception. 



