1 68 The Scottish Naturalist. 



it is prudent in filling it to make sure that there are shells in 

 the locality — I take it home, dry the contents, and then pass 

 them through a seive several times; on examining the sifting 

 a rich harvest of shells may often be reaped. 



H. aculeata Mull. — A widely distributed but not abundant 

 species, frequenting the same kind of places as the last, but more 

 universal in the lowlands than it. It should be searched for in 

 the same manner, and may easily be passed over from its re- 

 semblence to a prickly seed. 



H. pulchella Mull. — This shell well de'serves its name. 

 It is a widely distributed but rather local species ; in the high- 

 lands it appears to be very rare. It lives about the roots of 

 grass in either dry or wet places, on rocks, walls or sandy shores. 

 I have found it most commonly by shaking over a piece of 

 paper the tufts of grass growing in the corners, or on the narrow 

 ledges, of dry rocks. Many shells of different species may be 

 easily obtained in this manner. About Perth I find the var. 

 costata commoner than the type. 



H. rotundata Mull. — A very common species under stones, 

 and about rocks, walls, &c , but less common in the highlands. 

 The var. minor is alpine, and is recorded from Shetland ; the 

 var. alba is rare, but has been found at Aberdeen, and I once 

 met with it near Perth. 



H. rupestris Stud. — A rather local species, but common where 

 it does occur. It has been found as far north as Sutherlandshire, 

 but I have never seen it in the highlands. It lives on dry 

 rocks and walls, under loose stones or in narrow chinks, some- 

 times among the roots of grass on ledges in company with 

 H. pulchella. 



H. pygmoea Drap. — Not uncommon among dead leaves in 

 woods as far north as Ross-shire (where I have found it), but 

 probably often overlooked from its small size. It should be 

 searched for in the same manner as H. lamellata. 



Bulimus acutus Mull. — A maritime species occurring on sand-- 

 hills on several parts of the coast both east and west, as far north 

 as Durness. The var. bizona occurs in Iona. 



/>'. obscurus Mull. — Widely distributed, but not found every- 

 where ; I have never seen it in the highlands. It lives on walls 

 and rocks, hiding in dry weather among the roots of grass or 

 sticking to the rock behind depending tufts. It is one of the 



