146 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF AILSA CRAIG. 



Reptilia. — The slow-worm or blind-worm (Anguis fragilis) is 

 a well-known inhabitant of Ailsa, and several were seen by us on 

 22nd May, 1895 (A. V.). It is said to be much scarcer within 

 recent years, and the rats are charged with destroying it (B. XV. 89). 



Pisces.— Prof. Bell Todd reports (A. VIII.) that the dog-fish, 

 Acanthias vulgaris, seems to be very common off the south-east 

 side of the island, it being caught in a short period of time by 

 using the wing of a sparrow as bait. 



INVERTEBRATA. 



Mollusca. — The most abundant marine shell seems to be 

 Trochus dnerarius (B. XXX.), and there is a prize for the 

 conchologist in the white-lipped variety of the common periwinkle 

 {Littorina littorea), but he must dig for it amongst the coarse 

 gravel of the east shore to the depth of three or four feet (A. II.). 

 Of land-molluscs we have collected the common field-slug (Agrio- 

 lifiiax agrestis) and also Helix rotundata, H. aspersa, H. nemoralis, 

 H. arbustorum and Clausilia rugosa. A. agrestis and H. arbus- 

 torum were named by the Rev. G. A. Frank Knight, M.A., 

 the first-mentioned provisionally as the specimen had been 

 badly preserved, and the other species are on the authority of 

 Mr. John Smith. To the above species we add on the authority of 

 Mr. Thos. Scott, F.L.S., ^Hyalinia alliaria and *Pupa cylindracea 

 (B. XXVII. 157); and propose in our account of the invertebrate 

 fauna of Ailsa to include in the lists any species which Mr. Scott 

 has noted in the paper above referred to, in addition to our own 

 records, so that this account may be as complete as possible. 

 Mr. Scott's records are distinguished by an * prefixed to the 

 names of the species, as above. 



Insecta. — The members of our Entomological section who 

 visited Ailsa with the Society on 24th May, 1900, made a 

 considerable addition to our knowledge of the insect-fauna of the 

 island, as the following lists show. Except where otherwise stated 

 the records apply to the above date, and we are indebted for them to 

 Messrs. A. Ross, R. Henderson, J. E. Murphy and H. W. Wilson. 



HYMENOPTERA. 



Bombus terrestris, L. Strongylogaster cingulatus, F. 



* Homalomyia canaliculars, L. 1 



On 3rd June, 1893, Mr. Smith noted a black ant ( ? species). 

 1 May not this be H. caniatlaris, L. , a dipteron ? 



