AIRY HOLME WOOD. 229 



visit have I paid there, in search of Land Shells and Plants; and the 

 recollection now, when many miles away, causes regret that there is no 

 such locality in this neighbourhood. Another interesting geological feature 

 is the Trap Dyke, which crosses it in one part. I do not suppose, however, 

 that it has much effect in rendering the wood favourable to the growth of 

 Molluscs. The chief cause of its fertility is the very great depth of vegetable 

 mould in all parts, giving evidence of its having been a wood for centuries. 



The trees are chiefly oaks, which are very favourable to the growth of a 

 luxuriant vegetation; not like the beach and fir, that seem to exercise a 

 baneful influence on most vegetable life. The place is what might be called 

 a glen, the lower parts, near the stream, being damp — almost boggy. On first 

 entering the wood one is struck with the dense luxuriousness of everything 

 around, and amongst the plants most conspicuous are Paris quadrifolia, Stuchys 

 sylvntica, Eqiiisetum Telmateia, and abundance of the pretty grass, Melica 

 unijlora. Almost the first shell we find, presupposing that we make our 

 search in the autumn, is Helix fusca, which is to be seen in considerable 

 numbers crawling up the fronds of Dryopteris Filix-mas, or the stems and 

 leaves of Stachys sylvatica, etc. In company with this may be found in 

 abundance, Succinea putris, Helix Jiispida, and, crawling up the stems of 

 young trees chiefly, GlaiisHia nigricans. 



Searching amongst the dead leaves, moss, and the roots of plants, we 

 are astonished at the number and variety of the little gems. Perhaps in 

 one place we come upon a whole colony of Azeca tridens, easily recognised 

 by its shining -coat, barrel shape, and small mouth, protected by three 

 threatening teeth; and within a yard or two all the Zonites, except excavatus 

 and lucidus; Helix aculeata, Vertigo pygmcea and suhstriata, and Zaa labrica. 

 In the damp parts of the wood, among dead leaves, moss, and at the roots 

 of Chrysosplenium aUernifolium and oppositifolium, we find the chief rarities^ 

 Pupa Anglica, with its numerous teeth; Acme fusca, and Helix lameUata^ 

 none of which are abundant — the collector may think himself fortunate if he 

 finds half a dozen at a forage. They are all interesting shells, Acme fusca 

 particularly so, the animal is much more lively than most of the small molluscs; 

 its horns have the peculiar characteristic of being contractile, but not retractile, 

 it has only two, with two jagged blackish spots at the base; its head too 

 is peculiar, being long, even proboscidiform. Viewed under a good microscope 

 the longitudinal lines on the shell are very beautiful, and cause one to 

 consider Hartmann's name, lineata, adopted by Forbes and Hanley, as much 

 more appropriate than ywsca. Along with these are found Carychium minimum; 

 and Zonites crystallinus. 



Discontinuing our search amongst the leaves, etc., in order to relieve the 

 stiffhess consequent upon continued stooping, let us look under the lichen, 

 {Parmelia saxatilis,) which covers the stems of the trees, and we shall there 

 probably find a few specimens of Baha perversa; this shell, I believe, is 

 particularly partial to limestone districts, being found there much more frequently 



