Mr. J. G. Jeffreys on the Conchology of France. 471 



upwards, and terminates in a circular aperture ; they are com- 

 monly laid alongside the fibre, and often appressed to it, but 

 occasionally stand out from it. 



There are two very distinct states of this zoophyte. In old 

 specimens, spreading over the stems of Sertulariaj &c., the cells 

 are massed confusedly together, and the form is with difficulty 

 distinguishable. On shells it presents a much simpler appear- 

 ance : the cells are sparingly distributed and distinct, and in 

 such specimens I have never been able to detect any trace of a 

 crust. 



Hah, Exceedingly common on our coasts, both north and 

 south, on Sertularia abietina and other zoophytes ; also on 

 mussel-shells from the Dogger Bank, &c. 



XLII. — Contribution to the Conchology of France. 

 By J. GwYN Jeitfreys, Esq., F.R.S. 



Having spent part of this autumn on the coast of Normandy, 

 with my family, I have been requested by some of my scientific 

 friends to publish the result of my researches ; but I fear my 

 story will not be much longer than that of the w^eary knife- 

 grinder. In fact the whole of my work in the North of France 

 was fruitless, as regards the discovery of new or rare species ; 

 although perhaps a list of some species taken by me, and which 

 have not been noticed by writers on French Conchology, may 

 be of some use in contributing towards the elucidation of the 

 important problem of geographical distribution. 



Etretat (where I was located) is a small sea-bathing place, 

 containing about 1800 inhabitants, and is distant seventeen 

 miles from Havre on the road to Dieppe. It is a delightful 

 retreat, and has hitherto escaped invasion by our countrymen, 

 who, if they knew of the clear sea and atmosphere, the picturesque 

 rock scenery, the fontaine^ subterranean river, and oyster park, 

 and above all the facility of access from England, would soon 

 crowd and spoil the place. This may be a selfish, but I believe 

 it is a common, sentiment. 



The fauna of this coast was, I understand, investigated many 

 years ago by the late Abbe Dicquemare, whose MSS. are now to 

 be seen in the public library of Rouen ; and Cuvier is said to 

 have made Fecamp (which lies about ten miles to the north of 

 Etretat) his retreat during the storm of the Great Revolution, 

 and to have commenced there his studies on the Mollusca. 

 M. Bouchard-Chantereaux has published a list of the marine 

 Testacea found in the Pas de Calais; M. Collard des Cherres 

 has also published a list of those found in the Department of 



