354: ASELLID. 
as the stomach is found filled with minute ligneous par- 
ticles. The burrows are about one-fifteenth of an inch 
in diameter; they are cylindrical, and perfectly smooth 
on the inside. 
We must refer the reader to Dr. Coldstream’s valuable 
memoir (from which most of the preceding details of the 
habits of the species have been derived) for an account 
of the injuries committed by these little depredators in 
various parts of the Scottish coast; as well as to Mr. 
Thompson’s memoir, in the 18th Volume of the “ Edin: 
burgh New Philosophical Journal,” where numerous 
Irish localities are recorded, and to Mr. Albany Han- 
cock’s memoir in the “ Newcastle Naturalists’ Trans- 
actions.” Mr. Hope’s suggestions in the “ Transactions 
of the Entomological Society,” vol. i. p. 119 and xxxiv., 
must also be referred to for their practical character. 
It was observed by Mr. Spence, at Bridlington Bay, 
near Hull, and Dr. Moore stated in ‘‘ Charlesworth’s 
Magazine of Natural History,” that its injurious effects 
had been observed for forty years in Plymouth Harbour. 
Through the kindness of the superintendent, Admiral 
Drummond, we have recently had the opportunity of 
examining into the extent of the depredations of this 
little creature on the submerged timber in the Royal 
Dockyard at Devonport. 
It is the opinion of Mr. Moore, the able and intelligent 
master shipwright, who has had the opportunity of ob- 
servation extending over thirty years, that the ravages of 
the gribble in this dockyard is considerably less than it 
was at the early part of his career. 
But this appeared to us to be more the result of suc- 
cessful attempts in the great care and ability shown in 
protecting the timber from the action of the animal, than 
in the decrease of this creature in the locality. 
