120 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



having first directed attention to the Elephant mortality from the presence 

 of the said species of Fluke. The worm itself, however, was first discovered 

 by Jackson, twenty years before the Rangoon letter appeared — namely, in 

 1847. 



A paper by Mr. Otto Tepper, " On Animal Intelligence," was read. 

 The author narrated instances coming under his own observation of cats 

 regularly unfastening the latch of a door to obtain entrance. In the case 

 of ants he has watched and studied their power of communicating with 

 each other. Upon these and such like kindred instances the author 

 adduces the possession of reasoning to what is more usually denoted 

 instinct. — J. Mutue. 



Zoological Society of London. 



February 7, 1882.— Prof. W. H. Flower, F.R.S., President, in the 

 chair. 



Mr. Henry Seebohm exhibited and made remarks on a series of Gold- 

 finches (obtained at Krasnoyarsk, in Central Asia), which presented every 

 form of transition between Carduelis major and C. canicejys. 



The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Peter Iuchbald, two curious 

 hybrid Ducks, obtained on some ornamental water near Darlington. 



Mr. St. George Mivart read a paper on the classification and distribution 

 of the Mluroidea. He regarded this suborder as best divisible into three 

 families — (1) Felida, (2) Viverrida, (3) Hyasnida. The Felida he proposed 

 to subdivide into but two genera, Felts and Cynalurus; the Viverrida into 

 the five subfamilies, (1) Viverrirus, (2) Galidictbue, (3) Euplerina, (4) Crypto- 

 proctina, and (5) Herpestina:. The Hyanida were referred to two sub- 

 families, Protelinm and Hyonina. The author regarded Cryptoprocta as a 

 true Viverrine animal, attaching but very little importance to dental 

 characters save as discriminating species and genera. The GalidictiruB 

 were arranged to include the genera Galidictis, Galidia, and Hemigalidia ; 

 the last-named genus having been instituted for the species previously 

 known as Galidia ohvacea and G. concolor. 



Mr. W. A. Forbes read a paper on some points in the anatomy of the 

 Indian Darter, Plotus melanoyaster, and gave a description of the mechanism 

 of the neck in this genus in connexion with the habits of the birds. 



A communication was read from Prof. P. Martin Duncan, containing 

 descriptions of some recent Corals collected by Mr. J. Y. Johnson at a few 

 fathoms depth in the sea off Funchal, Madeira. 



Mr. Stuart 0. Ridley read a paper on the arrangement of the Coralliida, 

 and gave a review of the genera and species of this family, which contains 

 the Red Corals. The description of a new species obtained in the Mauritius 

 was given, as well as an interesting — but probably not new — form, said to 

 come from Japan. — P. L. Sclatek, Secretary. 



