116 



AcHATiNA AcicuLA [The Needle Agate Shell], Miiller, 

 Figure 84. 



This very interesting, minute, and extremely delicate 

 shell is added on the authority of the Rev. J. Peach, 

 some specimens having been shown to me as found 

 near Ratcliffe, amongst moss. 



A gradually tapering shell, with blunt apex; the 

 body whorl very large comparatively, and aperture 

 lanceolate. Having six convolutions. 

 The usual length is a fifth of an inch. , 

 The colour of the animal is white. 

 First described by Boys, in 17S4, in " Walker's Minute 

 Shells." 



Inhabits roots of grass and moss, and is found in 

 Sayon coffins. Dead examples seem to be more abun- 

 dant than living specimens. Professor Forbes says 

 that in many instances it is subfossil, and appears to 

 have been common in England at the close of the ter- 

 tiary epoch. 



Specimens have been forwarded from Swansea by 

 Mr. Jeffreys, from Belfast by the much lamented Pro - 

 fessor Thompson, from Norwich by Mr. Bridman, from 

 Weymouth by Mr. Daraon, and from Stone by the Rev. 

 J. B. Reade j the latter are remarkably fine examples. 

 The eggs are large. 



Kent and Dorsetshire CMontaguj, Bristol CMiller), 

 London CGrey^, Essex CSheppard), Barham Downs, 

 Kent, and Lackham, Wiltshire (Brown^, in Saxon 



