THE NAUTILUS. 93 



home, and gathered a good many varieties of fresh-water and land 

 shells which I have always kept. 



Ill-health has prevented my doing much collecting the past year, 

 and my attempted exchanges have been unfortunate in almost every 

 case. However, I do not consider a "collection " the most import- 

 ant part of any study, though I must confess it adds pleasure to it. 

 Last July I very much enjoyed the class in conchology taught by 

 Mrs. Shepard, and found profit also. 



I spent one afternoon capturing what mollusks I could besiege in 

 their homes in the sand and mud at the mouth of the river above 

 Alamitos, stopping long enough at " Devil's Gate" to waylay with 

 a hatchet a few of the inhabitants of the soft rock, such as Phola- 

 didea, penita Conr., and Platyodon c.ancell.atus Conr. Nassa tegula 

 Rve., Cerithidea sacra ta Gld. were enjoying a promenade on the 

 mud, and it seemed a pity to end their happiness, unless I accept 

 the belief of Agassiz, Cuvier and others in the immortality of 

 animals. 



I noticed a good many small holes in the sand, some with little 

 mounds around them, like those made in the earth by some of the 

 insect world, and, I found, on excavating them, that some of my 

 little molluscan friends were at the bottom of the contrivance for 

 breathing. I brought to light Donax flexuosm Gld., Liocardium 

 substriatum, Lyonsia californica Conr. and Heterodonax bimaculatm 

 D'Orb. 



HENRY D. VAN NOSTRAND. 



It is with regret that we record the death of Mr. Henry D. Van 

 Nostrand, which occurred at his residence in Glen Ridge, N. J., on 

 the morning of the 8th of October. 



Mr. Van Nostrand was born in New York City about 73 years 

 ago, and was long actively engaged there in mercantile business as 

 a member of the firm of J. & H. Van Nostrand, wholesale grocers, 

 which was founded near the beginning of the present century by his 

 father. 



Early in life he became interested in the study of conchology, 

 and began a collection of shells which will rank with some of the 

 best private collections in the country. The nucleus of it was that 

 of the late John A. Redfield, which he purchased from Mr. Redfield 

 about 40 years ago. 



