x MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 
XIX Century that the conchology of Somerset received 
serious attention. In 1860 the Rey. A. M. Norman published, 
in Vol. X of these Proceedings, a paper on the Inland Mol- 
lusca of Somerset. The records chiefly concern the north and 
north-western districts, but so carefully had the author in- 
vestigated the molluscan fauna therein, that he was able to 
remark in his preface, “one hundred and six species are 
included in the present catalogue. Deducting five as perhaps 
erroneously recorded, the remaining number of Somersetshire 
mollusca will be found to exceed those hitherto met with in 
any county or district.” He hints that it was the first cata- 
logue to enumerate 100 species. It formed the basis of 
papers on the mollusca of the Bristol district by Messrs. 
Leipner, Ord, and Poulton, which were published in the seven- 
ties. 
Though fifty years have passed since it appeared, it is my 
great pleasure to observe that its learned author (now Rev. 
Canon A. Merle Norman, D.C.L., F.R.S., ete., of world-wide 
reputation as a conchologist) is still with us. I wrote to him 
soliciting notes when I commenced to put together my material 
for this paper, he replied that he could not give me any 
additional information as he had not resided in Somerset since 
the publication of the list. 
The molluscan fauna of the coast is apparently poor in 
species ; the polluted waters of the Bristol Channel are prob- 
ably inimical to mollusean life, but I suspect that the paucity 
of records is to be partly explained by the absence of observers. 
On the other hand, the inland fauna is a very rich one, prob- 
ably not excelled by any other county. Factors contributory 
to this are the numerous rivers and streams and the great 
diversity of soil. It is necessary briefly to consider the 
physical and geological features of the county before reviewing 
its mollusca from an ecological standpoint. 
The majority of the rivers rise in the eastern uplands and 
flow westwards into the Bristol Channel. The largest is the 
