328 The Irish Naturalist. November, 



difficulty consider all the forms as one species. There is con- 

 siderable anatomical difference between Hygrmnia sericr.a 

 Drap. and Hygromia rubiginosa A. Sch., yet no one has yet 

 been able to point out any constant conchological difference. 

 Vitrea hibernica is represented in my collection in a recent 

 state from Beginnish Island, Co. Kerry (coll. Miss M. Delap), 

 Murlough Bay, Co. Antrim (coll. R. Welch, M.R.I. A.), and 

 Rathkeale, Co. Limerick (coll. H. Fogerty) ; and in a fossil 

 state from Drumcliffe crannoge, Co. Clare (coll. Miss Parkin- 

 son), Clanreen crannoge, Co. Clare (coll. Miss Parkinson), and 

 a rainwash at Dog's Cave, Edenvale, Co. Clare (coll. R. Welch, 

 M.R.I A.). 



Mr, A. W. Stelfox has kindly submitted to me the Vitreas 

 collected b)* him during the recent Cork Conference and 

 during a subsequent collecting tour in the south-west, and the 

 new species is represented there from near Youghal, Co. 

 Waterford j Kenm are, Kerry South ; Carrigrohane, Mid Cork; 

 Killarney, Kerry North; and Rosteilan, Cork East. The 

 mistake in the past has been the elevation of Jeffreys' British 

 Conchology to infallibility. Shells have been provided with 

 names because they must be that species, since that was the 

 nearest one known to Jeffreys; the name being given after a 

 series of eliminations rather than by direct comparison and 

 identification. There are other forms in Ireland which may 

 well be new records for the British Isles, for amongst the 

 shells sent me by Mr. Stelfox are some Vitreas which I cannot 

 identify with any known British form. The shells which are 

 always called Valvata piscinalis Mull, are undoubtedly a com- 

 posite group of at least two species, V. piscinalis Mull, and V, 

 alpcsiris Blaun ; and the latter species is not uncommon in 

 Ireland. It may be urged that I am adding another ill-defined 

 and unsatisfactory species to an already difficult group, but it. 

 appears to me better to name the form than to persist in call- 

 ing it V. cellaria Mull, which it certainly is not, or cellaria var. 

 compacta Jeff, which includes both cellaria and lucida. 



I must tender my best thanks to those who have so kindly 

 assisted me in endeavouring to ascertain the correct name of 

 this Irish mollusc, and especially to Dr. Boettger, the Rev. E. 

 W. Wake Bowell, and R. Welch, M.R.I.A. 



Beckenham, Kent. 



