Proceedings of Learned Societies. 313 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEAENED SOCIETIES. 



BY W. B. TEGETMEIEE. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Introduction of a Living Penguin, etc. — At the recent meetings 

 of this society, the addition of several new and very valuable animals 

 to the collection has been announced by the secretary. Among 

 these may be mentioned the three-banded armadillo, Tolypeutes 

 prcelatus, described by Burnieister. This species is remarkable, as 

 progressing on the tips of the very long and sharp-pointed claws of 

 the fore feet. 



The introduction of a living penguin into the menagerie is to be 

 regarded as a circumstance of still higher importance, as it will 

 enable naturalists to observe the habits and mode of life of this 

 most singular group of fish-like birds. Hitherto all attempts to 

 import these birds have failed, the animals always dying on the 

 passage. The individual now living in the gardens is not the 

 common species, the Apterodytes demersa of naturalists, the jackass 

 penguin of the sailors, but the king penguin, Apterodytes pennantii. 

 This more ornamented species is at once distinguished by the 

 orange tint of the breast, and of the occipital feathers. In the 

 penguin, every organ is modified so as to suit its aquatic habits ; the 

 sickle-shaped wings are perfectly useless in the air, hanging pendant 

 by the sides of the upright body of the animal ; in the water they 

 become powerful paddles or fins, urging the progress of the bird 

 with a sufficient degree of rapidity to enable it to hunt down and 

 capture the fish on which it feeds. The legs and tarsi are 

 extremely short, and are situated so far backward that the body 

 of the bird is supported in a perfectly perpendicular attitude, 

 the animal, when at rest, supporting itself on the two feet and the 

 tail, as on a flattened tripod. The common penguin is described by 

 Mr. Darwin and other naturalists as progressing on land on its 

 breast, using its paddles or modified wings as fore legs. The 

 specimen in the gardens does not seem to move in this manner, but 

 walks or rather waddles on its webbed feet with very short and 

 toddling steps. The specimen, which is placed in the pelican en- 

 closure, to the left of the chief entrance to the gardens, is very tame, 

 following the keeper for its food ; the general appearance is that of 

 considerable intelligence. 



As very many years may elapse before another specimen of these 

 birds is introduced into this country, the opportunity of examining 

 this specimen should not be allowed to pass away unimproved by 

 all who claim the title of Intellectual Observers. 



MANCHESTER PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.— March 7. 



The Action of Sea Water on Metals. — Dr. Crace Calvert 

 read an account of a very valuable series of experiments undertaken 



