248 CLAUSILIA EOLPHH, 



the green weed in which he sought refuge; in vain did the Water Flea 

 leave his eccentric gambols and sink beneath the surface, both were certain 

 to be sucked into the vast jaws of the skimmer, which drawn forth, was 

 speedily emptied of its water through its serrated side, and the unhappy 

 victim left high and dry behind; not that I ever had a thought of harming 

 him, for I immediately transferred him to my pan of clear water, and 

 there had ample leisure to admire his bronzed or silver wings, and the 

 beauty and ease of his motions. 



As to the Water Newts or Efts, {Triton palustris,) they were an easy 

 prey, and I rather sought to catch those who were more active and shy. 

 I know it was for many years doubted whether this little animal was a 

 distinct species from that found on sandy banks and on commons, but 

 Mr. Ellis, that indefatigable naturalist, was supposed to have satisfactorily 

 cleared up the matter, and I own that upon a careful series of observations, I 

 was satisfied that he was correct in thinking that the two supposed kinds were 

 identical; the chief reason for the mistake arising from the fact of their 

 remaining two years in the transition state, before /they become perfect 

 land animals. But I met lately with a most talented gentleman who threw 

 some doubt upon the matter, and I should be glad to draw the attention 

 of the correspondents of "The Naturalist" to it, and to a no less important 

 fact with respect to the same animal; namely, that it is not only a 

 venomous creature, but that three distinct instances had come actually to 

 his knowledge, in which its bite had proved fatal. Now I consider that 

 these things are worthy attention, more especially in these days when we 

 are apt to fancy that there is nothing more to be learned; and if it is 

 not beneath their notice, I might likewise recommend my, perhaps, rather 

 inartificial mode of examining specimens without taking the poor little 

 creatures' lives, until at least they shall be proved to be venomous, for 

 that I shall make the subject of special investigation, and perhaps give 

 them to the world on a future occasion, through the medium of these 

 pages. 



Lincolns Inn Fields, February 3rd., 1857. 



CLAUSILIA KOLPHII. 



TO THE EDITOR OF "THE NATURALIST." 



In the number of "The Naturalist" for the present month, (September,) 

 I see that W. V. Guise, Esq., in a paper on the "Cotteswolds," throws 

 considerable doubt on the accuracy of my statement regarding Glausilia 

 Rolphii, contained in a "List of the Land and Fresh-water Shells found 

 in the neighbourhood of Cheltenham," which appeared in your periodical 



