516 'Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology. 



41. In presenting his request for the formation of a special section for the study 

 of animal education, Hachet-Souplet makes some observations on the method 

 which he considers best adapted to bring out the highest mental powers of animals: 

 that of persuasion, consisting in explaming to the animal, by voice, gesture, or 

 arrangement of surroundings, what it is expected to do. 



42. The same writer discusses the method by which dogs are taught to rescue 

 drowning persons. 



46, 47, 48. The most important results of the last two papers are included in 

 the first. The instincts treated are the uses of the web, the care of the young, and 

 the courting processes. Lec.a.illon finds that the spiders observed by him show 

 little discrimination in regard to the cocoon, but will accept cocoons of other species 

 and difi^erent form from their own; that they are not disturbed if, while they are 

 carrying a cocoon, its wall is cut, allowing the eggs to fall out and decidedly alter- 

 ing the weight of their burden; that they can distinguish at some little distance a 

 strange female occupying their nest. 



49. Marage places himself on the negative side of the discussion regarding 

 the hearing of fishes. He tested Gobio fluviatilis, Anguilla vulgaris, Esox lucius, 

 Tinea vulgaris, Cyprinus carpio, and Leuciscus rutilus in the aquarium, and, 

 in free water, Alburnus lucidus. The sounds used were the vowels ou, 0, a, e 

 sung successively on notes from C2 to G6, with energy varying from 0.00045 ^g"^- 

 to 0.05 kgm., communicated through rubber tubes, the fish not being able to see 

 the experimenter. No response whatever was obtained, though a diver 80 m. away 

 could hear and distinguish the sounds. 



50. The chief contribution made by Martin to the study of the tidal rhythm 

 in Convoluta is the fact that various influences, such as repeated mechanical 

 shocks, prolonged darkness, colored light, chemicals, etc., may inhibit the rhythm, 

 causing "amnesia," and that "non-amnesic C mingled with a greater number of 

 amnesic C lose their memory, while amnesic C mingled with a greater number 

 of non-amnesic C imitate the oscillatory movements of the latter." 



51. This is an unimportant because inexact observation of the attraction of 

 ants to food at a distance. 



52. This paper contains definitions of morphological terms and a statement of 

 unsolved problems with regard to the instincts and mental powers of birds. 



53 and 55. Pieron's study of Actinia equina begins with the question as to what 

 stimuli provoke reaction: he finds, unlike BoHN, that light has no effect, nor has 

 auditory stimulation. There is some response to food held very close to but not 

 in contact with a tentacle. Contact with food produces the feeding reaction; 

 some individuals will attach themselves to any mechanical stimulus, while others 

 give withdrawing movements to any but a food stimulus. A portion of another 

 actinian will not be swallowed. As regards the localization of sensibility, the 

 tentacles are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli, as are the peri- 

 stome and mouth; the foot is very sensitive to mechanical stimuli, and the column 

 insensitive to both mechanical and chemical excitants. Varieties, individuals, 

 and ages differ in sensibility. Foul water and drying affect the response to stimu- 

 lation, as do certain internal factors, such as digestion, regurgitation, and parturi- 

 tion. Reaction ceases when a mechanical stimulus is repeated. Paper 55 is a 

 study of the movements of A. equina and of their synergy. 



54- This paper discusses, without reaching a positive conclusion, the problem 



