100 THE NAUTILUS. 



discovered on the cliff side on May 9, 1893, all still in hibernation. 

 In the more elevated parts of a small piece of rather swampy woods 

 off the St. Foye road, not far from the city limits, this shell was 

 rather common. Living shells all presented a more or less \\nrn 

 appearance, the tooth was often lacking in seemingly full-grawn in- 

 dividuals, and they seldom approached in size, and were generally 

 more fragile, than those occurring on the Isle d'Orleans. From this 

 I should judge that their surroundings were not exactly healthy or 

 suitable ones, and they no doubt owe their existence here to the fact 

 of the wood being a private preserve, comparatively undisturbed by 

 man or beast. No other Mesodon was seen here. 



This good species was first taken in the vicinity of Quebec City 

 by Mr. Latchford, of Ottawa, Out., the occasion being a visit to the 

 Isle d'Orleaus on August 16, 1891. Since that date a good number 

 have been taken there, all, without exception, on the cliffs on both 

 ^ides (if the islands ; at some places within a few yards of high water 

 mark of the St. Lawrence River. On the cliff side having a northern 

 exposure, the vegetation is decidedly rank, and where there is a good 

 deal of moist, shaly rock mixed with dead leaves, etc., live speci- 

 mens are sure to be plentiful and in fine condition. 



On May 27, 1893, chiefly from an old unused path on the cliff 

 side, I made the following capture : 'v lenites eoneava Say, 66 ; J'i/m- 

 midula alternata Say, 59 ; Poh/i/i/nt ulbohtbris Say, 1 ; Po/i/i/iint 

 ili'iitifi-m Binii., 71 ; Polygyra .sin/// Binn., 29 ; 1 'n /'/.'/'/''" monodan 

 Rack., 15; Suecinea obliquu Say, 9 all good and mostly living 

 shells. 



Polygyra sayii Binn. This species is more widely distributed than 

 P. dentifera Binn. along the cliff side on the mainland (northern 

 exposure only). On the island it occurs with M. dentifera, but 

 never in abundance (except on the above-mentioned occasion). It 

 has also been taken rarely in the woods which cover a good part of 

 the island. This species appears to be more hard}' than the other 

 Polygyra; it does not go into hibernation nearly so early in the fall. 

 Unfortunately, eaten shells are rather too conspicuous. 



It took me a whole season to get used to the habits of these spe- 

 cies, so as to know just where to look for them, often going home, 

 nearly empty-handed when I had really been in the midst of them. 

 When hibernating, they are most easily seen, the beautiful white 

 (sometimes pinkish) lip of P. dcntif<r Uiim. catching the eye when 

 exposed to view. Early in the spring, when just out, they are more 



