456 REY. §. J. WHITMEE ON PALOLA ViRIDIS. [June 15, 
of the wild cats and rats, is it not? It used to make a nest any- 
where on the ground formerly, just like a fowl.” 
This remark about a change in the place of building the nest 
was given exactly as I have translated it, without any “ leading 
question”’ on my part, or any remark which could have suggested 
it; and I have full confidence in the truthfulness of the native who 
made it. 
From my own observation of living Didunculi, I think these birds 
manifest a considerable amount of intelligence: e.g. the young one 
which I procured last year (which I forwarded to Sydney in Decem- 
ber last to be transmitted to the Zoological Society of London) very 
early recognized persons. I caught it one day to transfer it to a 
large cage. From that time it took a great dislike tome, which was 
manifested in the most unmistakable manner whenever I approached 
it. This intelligence seems to have enabled the bird to change its 
habits for self-preservation. It has probably been frightened when 
roosting or during incubation by the attacks of cats, and has sought 
safety in the trees. Learning, from frequent repetition of the fright, 
that the ground is a dangerous place, it has acquired the habit of 
building, roosting, and feeding upon the high trees ; and this change 
of habit is now operating for the preservation of this interesting 
bird, which was a few years ago almost extinct. 
Samoa, March 13th, 1874. 
4. On the Habits of Palola viridis. 
By 8S. J. Wuirmer, C.M.Z.S., F.R.G.S. 
[Received May 31, 1875.] 
From the article “ Helminthology”’ in the ‘ Encyclopedia Bri- 
tannica’*, I see anotice of this annelidis in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the 
Society for March 9th, 1847. A paper on it has also appeared in 
vol. xxii. of the Linnean Society’s ‘ Transactions’ by Dr. Macdonald. 
I have not seen either of these papers; but I presume the worm is 
fully described in them. Very good magnified figures of the head 
and the posterior extremity of the Palola are copied from Dr. Mac- 
donald’s paper in the late Dr. Seemann’s ‘ Mission to Viti’ f. 
I shall confine the present paper to an account of the time of the 
Palolo’s appearance during several years, and some observations on 
its habits which I made in 1872 and 1873. 
The Palolot appears regularly at the time of the moon’s last 
quarter in October and November. I am indebted to the Rev. George 
Brown, of the Wesleyan Missionary Society (who resided several 
years at a place on the island of Savaii, where it is very abundant) 
for the following dates of the worm’s appearance :— 
1862. Oct. 15th. A small number only. 
»» Oct. 16th (day of moon’s quartering). Pa/olo plentiful. 
* Enc. Brit. xi. 297. + Mission to Viti, p. 62. 
+ Lemploy this form in both the singular and plural number, according to 
Polynesian usage. 
