122 
JOUENAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
the oyster as knowingly closed, and kept out the intruder. The 
lobster waited until the oyster again opened; he then threw a 
pebble between the valves, and so prevented the shells from 
closing. The oyster now readily fell a prey to its hungry enemy. 
I remember, when pursuing some researches into the boring of 
marine animals into shells, &c., observing a dog-whelk {Purpura 
lapilla) attach itself to and commenced drilling the shell of a 
mussel. I removed the whelk two or three times that I might 
see how the operation progressed. On each occasion the whelk 
invariably returned to the same spot and recommenced boring. I 
cut the muscles of the mussel so that I might be able to observe 
the way in which it would be devoured through the hole that was 
being made. No sooner had I done this than the whelk left its old 
position, and creeping round inserted its proboscis between the 
valves of its now powerless victim, and so ate it. 
I could give several instances in which animals low in the scale 
of zoological life exhibit evidence of exercising judgment, instead 
of following out the blind instinct of their race. 
Spence Bate. 
PEUSSIA m 1866. 
ABSTRACT OF EEV. F. E. ANTHONy's PAPER. 
(Read December 1st, 1870.) 
The traditional policy of Prussia has always included — 
1. The maintenance of an efficient military system. 
2. Jealous rivalry of Austria. 
Both these principles have arisen from the instinct of self-preser- 
vation, through Prussia's position in Europe. 
Prederic William, the Great Elector, initiated this policy. His 
successors continued it. Prederic the Great won a place for himself 
and his army in the first rank of military renown. A new system 
of tactics introduced with the Prench Pevolution. Napoleon's 
invasion of Prussia — her defeat and humiliation. During the 
Prench occupation the present military system was organised, and 
on the expulsion of the Prench was applied to the whole nation. 
It is based on the principle that in a lawfully administered arma- 
ment of the nation lies the best security of lasting peace." This 
