TRANSACTIONS Of THE SECTIONS. 71 



represent, in some degree, the oral aspect of a Cyprsea, and the skin between the 

 mucronated lines is curiously folded and packed. 



The skin is translucent enough to show, during the retraction and exsertion of the 

 proboscis, internal movements manifested by shady parts pushed far forward and 

 backward ; but these movements are disguised by the partial opacity caused by many 

 white narrow longitudinal bands, which being collected togetlier to closer proximity 

 in one particular band, make there a narrow continuous ridge, terminating near the 

 anal opening. 



The plume when expanded shows, on each of its penicilli, a roughly papillous sur- 

 face ; the papillae, being examined, are found often to be long, conical, and sometimes 

 covered with finer prominences or thread-like parasites. The expansion and contrac- 

 tion of this plume — doubtless the respiratory organ — is probably connected with an in- 

 ternal cavity filled with a watery fluid, but the author has deferred a strict dissection 

 of the interior till other specimens should be placed at his disposal. He proposes 

 the following specific character: — 



Priapulus caudatus, Fleming. — P. corpore cylindrico, annulato, antice proboscidi- 

 fero, posticfe ramoso-penicillato ; proboscide lineis (24) longitudinalibus dentiferis, 

 signato ; papillis corporis ovato-conicis ; penioillorum papillis acutis conicis. 



On the Connexion between Cartilage and Bone. 

 By Peter Redfern, M.D., Lond., 8^c. 



The author described in detail the nature of the structure of bone and cartilage at their 

 junction, and pointed out that the relation between them is much more intimate than is 

 generally supposed, and that it accounts satisfactorily for the characters of disease of 

 the articular surfaces of bones. It shows likewise the actual passage of cartilage into 



bone. 



On a curious Exemplification of Instinct in Birds. 

 By the Rev. Francis F. Statham, B.A., F.G.S., Walworth. 



The author stated that his communication partook more of the nature of an anec- 

 dote than of any elaborate disquisition. He made some references to the theory of 

 the facial angle, as indicative of the amount of sagacity observable in the animal race, 

 but expressed his conviction that this theory was utterly at fault in the case of birds ; 

 many of those having a very acute facial angle being considerably more intelligent than 

 others having scarcely any facial angle at all. Size also seemed to present another ano- 

 maly between the two races of beasts and birds ; for while the elephant and the horse 

 were among the most distinguished of quadrupeds for sagacity and instinct, the larger 

 birds seemed scarcely comparable to the smaller ones in the possession of these attri- 

 butes. The writer instanced this by comparing the ostrich and the goose with the 

 wren, the robin, the canary, the pigeon, and the crow. The author then proceeded 

 to describe in detail the particular case of instinct which formed the subject of his 

 paper. It referred to the poisoning of two young blackbirds by the parent birds 

 when they found that they could neither liberate them nor permanently share their 

 Captivity. The two fledgelings had been taken from a blackbird's nest in the garden 

 of S. Swonnell, Esq., of Surrey Square, London, and had been placed in a room over- 

 looking the garden, in a wicker cage. For some time the old birds attended to their 

 wants, visited them regularly, and fed them with appropriate food .; but at last, getting 

 wearied of the task, or despairing of effecting their liberation, they appeared to have 

 poisoned them. They were both found suddenly dead one morning shortly after 

 having been seen in good health ; and on opening their bodies, a small leaf, supposed 

 to be that of Solamtm nigrum, was found in the stomach of each. The old birds im- 

 mediately deserted the spot, as though aware of the nefarious deed befitting their namer 



On the Partridges of the Great Water-shed of India. 

 By H. E. Strickland, M.A., F.R.S. 



The author drew attention to a new Part of Mr. Gould's Birds of Asia, in which 

 the genus Telraogallus was illustrated. These birds had been correctly named, as 

 they truly partook of the characters of the genera Tetrao and Galliis. Specimens of 

 these birds were now alive in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London. 



