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THE RE DISCOVERY OF VERTIGO ULLJEBORGI 



IN IRELAND. 



BY G. W. CHASTER AND BROCKTON TOMUN. 



In 1845 J. G. Jeffreys discovered, on the shores 01' "a small 

 lake at Ballynahinch, Co. Gahvay," a shell which he described 

 seventeen years subsequently ("British Conchology," Vol. I., 

 p. 255) as Vertigo monlinsiajia, Dupuy. In the "Annals and 

 Magazine of Natural History " for 1878, p. 380, this name was 

 corrected to Vertigo Lilljeborgi, Westerkind, the \\\x^. '¥.■ moti- 

 linsiana having been in the meantime discovered at Hitchin, 

 Herts. The transfer of Jeffreys' collection across the 

 "herring pond" to Washington removed possibly the only 

 specimens extant in this country ; and, since the original 

 capture, Vertigo Lilljeborgi appears fo have been as completely 

 lost as the fields of Lyonesse, so far as the British Isles are 

 concerned. At any rate, we have no knowledge of any sub- 

 sequent capture until our own. 



Being in the West of Ireland in September 'last, we 

 resolved to arrange for a stay of several hours at Ballyna- 

 hinch, in order to make a systematic search for the long-lost 

 mollusc. On reaching our destination we found, to our 

 dismay, that provisions were quite unprocurable — even the 

 succulent blackberry was scarce. Let other conchologisfs 

 on the track of Vertigo Lilljeborgi take warning ! There 

 remained nothing for it but to make the best of a bad 

 business, and to work up enthusiasm — that unfailing con- 

 solation of the naturalist — so as to minimise the discomfort 

 of the inner man. After reaching the lake our efforts for 

 some time seemed likely to end in failure, one or two Vertigo 

 M7itivertigo alone rewarding our search. At last, howeve-r, 

 a shell turned up which both of us recognised as distinct 

 from any British species of Vertigo with which we were 

 acquainted. Then commenced a patient and protracted 

 search, which eventually resulted in the accumulation of a 

 fair number of specimens. We shall not easily forget our 

 summer's day spent by the bonnie little lake, with its well- 

 wooded shores and castled islet — a day of glorious sunshine, 

 and, best of all, of success in regardto the special object of 

 our visit. 



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