96 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



specimens recorded by N. Charles Rothschild in the Ent. Mo. Mag. for March 

 (p. 67), were taken at Ballindalloch from a Mole. 



James J. F. X. King, in the Ent. Mo. Mag. for March (p. 66), contributes a 

 note on Agrion has tula turn, Charp., at Aviemore. Many specimens of both sexes 

 were captured last July, thus showing that this recent addition to the British 

 list of Dragon-flies is well established in Scotland. 



The Rev. James Waterston continues his interesting work on parasitic Insects, 

 and records {Ent. Mo. Mag., March 1912, pp. 61-63) two Mallophaga taken from 

 the Snipe at Northmavine, Shetland. Their names are Nirmus inincatus and 

 Docophorus nirmoides, var. major. The same author recoids {torn, tit., p. 64) 

 Hamatopinus vituli, L., on a white cilf in the same locality. 



The possibilities of detailed marine zoological investigation on the west coast 

 of Scotland are indicated in an interesting paper by Prof. J. Graham Kerr 

 on "Loch Sween," in the February number of the Glasgow Naturalist '(vol. iv., 

 No. 2, pp. 33-48, pis. iii. and iv.). During several summers observations have 

 been made on the organic life of the loch, with the result that general impressions 

 have been gained of the bottom-fauna, and especially of the plankton. The 

 paper is accompanied by excellent figures of larval forms of Brittle-stars, a 

 Holothurian, and Molluscs, which, since some are unidentified, emphasise the 

 need for further study of life-histories in suitable laboratories. The paper 

 as a whole furnishes a strong appeal for the intensive study of marine life on 

 our west coast. 



B. Lindsay, in the Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist, for March 191 2 (pp. 369-374), 

 contributes a paper "On the Boring Mollusca of St Andrews," accompanied 

 by a plate. The main object of the article is to settle the question as to the 

 means by which boring Molluscs perform their work, i.e., whether by the aid of an 

 acid secretion or by purely mechanical means. Three types of Mollusca were 

 investigated, viz., Zirphaa {Photos') crispata, Saxicara rugosa, and Tapes pullastra. 

 The last-mentioned species is stated to be incapable of boring or even of enlarging 

 an existing burrow. Zirplnva, on the other hand, is regarded as the most highly 

 specialised of the Pholadid borers, and its method of working is described in 

 detail and humorously referred to as " a combination of a nutmeg-grater and a 

 vacuum-cleaner." 



In the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society for February 19 1 2 appears 

 (pp. 9-27) an important paper by the Rev. Hilderic Friend, on "British 

 Enchytreeids." All the species of the principal genus Fridericia known to inhabit 

 the British Isles are described, and records given of the localities in which they 

 have been found. The following six species are noted for Scotland : lobifera, 

 striata, magna, bretscheri, michaelseni, and glandulosa. 



