REPORTS OF MEETINGS. 
165 
although he made some gallant efforts to get a chance of inserting 
his fangs in the body of the crow, the latter was too wily for him, 
and dodged about in such a manner as to avoid his every attempt. 
At last the reptile (who was standing upon his tail during the fight) 
suddenly fell down from sheer weakness, when the crow immediately 
made dart upon its opponent, seized him by the neck, bore him to a 
great height in the air, and then allowed him to drop upon the very 
heap of stones whereon the combat took place. The bird then 
quickly returned, and repeated the manoeuvre over and over again, 
until the snake was quite dead. He then rejoined his companions, 
when they took their departure together, after having first set up a 
great “ caw-caw,” which the birds repeated three times, and which 
was evidently intended to answer the purpose of three cheers, 
given in token of victory. Our informant tells us he never saw a 
snake battered and bruised in such an unmerciful manner as this 
one was ; it was beaten out of all shape, and the poor ringhals’ own 
mother would not have recognised her son had she seen him in such 
a sad plight.— -Frowsier Guardian, February 6, 1880. 
Mr. Leipiier then proceeded to give the following paper on 
Corals and Coral Keefs ” : — This substance is produced by 
vegetable and animal organisms. As an instance of the former, 
we find certain varieties of seaweed, such as coralines, which 
secrete carbonate of lime. These, though sometimes classed as 
corals, are properly, seaweeds. In the animal kingdom there 
are two sub-kingdoms, the Coelenterata and Molluscoida, which 
include the true coral-builders. The latter of these are cylindrical 
in form, and externally resemble Hydra ; the tentacles are ciliated 
for the purpose of producing currents in the surrounding water, 
and thus assisting in respiration and feeding. They possess 
perfect muscular, digestive, and nervous systems. In the 
Coelenterata we have Hydrozoa and Actinozoa, the latter of 
which possess the greater interest. The body in them is divided 
into compartments by six membranes, and between these again 
others intervene, so that the interior cavity is subdivided into a 
