146 DT3TJLTN NATXTEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY. 



suits, although I succeeded in rearing Helix pomatia, or edible snail, in a degree. 

 I most carefully watched them, but within a month or two they invariably de- 

 clined and melted away. The last locality I placed them in was Portmarnock, 

 one in every respect similar to their own. Hero failure again occurred. Whether 

 they were picked up by the naturalists who frequented this interesting spot, or 

 that the locale was unfavourable, I cannot say, but I could not again find them ; 

 that they never increased is quite evident. In referring once again to Knock- 

 angin, I should observe, that it was on this strand Scalaria Turtonis was 

 first noticed, and which was named after Dr. Tiirton, who had done so much to 

 elucidate the science of Conchology. 



Mr. Andrews said that the thanks of the Society were due to Dr. Farran for 

 his notes on this beautiful shell, and for the perfect series he now presented to 

 the Society. Some years since, when making a botanical ramble in the county 

 of Kerry, he (Mr. Andrews) found a dumber of specimens of Helix ciiigcnda, 

 firmly attached by a kind of deposit, or incrustation, to the leaves of the yellow 

 water iris ; with these, on the same plant, were found specimens of Succinea 

 putris. The animal of H. pisana is of a pale ash-colour, with eyes intensely black, 

 but the shells present such variableness of character — some yellowish and white, 

 and altogether wanting the bands — that he communicated with the late eminent 

 zoologist, William Thompson, inquiring of the views that ardent zoologist 

 might entertain of these forming specific differences. Mr. Andrews read Mr. 

 Thompson's reply, dated April, 1845: — " You did well not to trouble yourself 

 about the species of the shells, for it is a most critical study, and I should be 

 most sorry now to spend the time on it that I once did. The species is most in- 

 teresting, being Helix pisana (H.cingenda), hitherto known only in one locality." 



Dr. Kinahan laid before the Society a number of specimens of H. pisana, 

 which he had, in company with Mr. Montgomery, collected at Baltrae, north of 

 the Boyne, early in March last. Dr. Kinahan corroborated Dr. Farran's state- 

 ment of their extremely local occurrence, and of the narrow slips they were con- 

 fined to in those localities. Dr. Kinahan' s specimens presented great variable- 

 ness of character — some pure white, or bearing translucent in place of coloured 

 bands. The young shells were carinated, and some were extremely large, 

 equalling the specimens he had seen in the British Museum, obtained from 

 Corsica. 



JANUARY, 1856. 



ON PECTUNCULUS GLTCIMERIS, AND ON THE LOCAL RANGE OF MOLLUSCOUS 

 ANIMALS TRACED WITH THE DREDGE. BY CHARLES FARRAN, M.D. 



It may be in the recollection of some Members present that I laid before the 

 Society the result of my examination by the dredge of Berterbie Bay, in the year 

 1844 ; and although that communication extended to an unconscionable length, 

 I felt that many most interesting circumstances had been, of necessity, omitted, 

 which 1 then purposed, at a fitting opportunity, to bring under the notice of the 

 Society, when I had satisfied myself of the correctness of my views by a re-exa- 

 mination of that interesting bay. In accordance with this determination, I have 

 selected from many subjects of high interest the history of the beautiful shell, 

 Pectunculus glyciraeris, specimens of which are placed before you, purposing to 

 touch but slightly on it as to its general distribution, but dwelling somewhat 

 more particularly and at greater length on its relation with Berterbie Bay and 

 the shells associated with it in that locality. Its history may be briefly given. 

 It is laid down by the best authorities on the subject as being an inhabitant of 

 the European seas, attaining the size, generally, of from two to two and a half 

 inches inlength, and nearly the same in breadth, increasing in intensity of colour 

 as it approaches the south, and generally covered with a thick villous coat, from 

 which it had for a length of time derived its specific name of ♦• Pilosus," but 



