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being knocked out of the colander : just above the ferrule of the stick is a hole 

 made by a gimlet, through which the string fastened on the strainer is made to 

 pass : the object, of course, will be seen at once : it is to fasten the colander so 

 that it shall not be lost. Equipped then with these two articles, and plentifully 

 supplied with wide-mouthed bottles, tin boxes, and, perhaps, a fishing can, I am 

 ready to search in the ditches for the minute bivalves, and in the larger streams 

 and canals for various creatures of various sorts. Another good plan is to have a 

 walking stick with a ferrule composed of a male and female screw. When the 

 lower screw is removed liave another to insert in its place, to which is attached 

 any instrument with meshes large enough to let all the water escape without any 

 of the shells going with it. 



For land shells bo-xes only are needed, combined with good use of eye-sight, 

 climbing powers, good ability for walking, with some slight knowledge as to 

 proper places to detect the habitats, a knowledge readily acquireil by examining 

 any work upon the subject, or even slightly gained by reading lists of localities. 



When shells are obtained they can either be made of service for the cabinet 

 or for an aquarium. If for the former let them be put in a vessel and pour boiling 

 water upon them ; but, pray take care, in order to secure the speedy death of 

 your victims that the water is thoroughly boiling ; it is well to use a little salt m 

 addition for the larger sorts. When the creatures are dead they may be detached 

 from their shell by means of a large pin, or such like instrument, care being taken 

 not to injure the mouth of the shell. There is a small shell which no pin could 

 make satisfactory, because the extreme end of the animal will break otf. It is 

 very transparent and very brittle. Its name is Vilruia pdlucida. In company 

 with this shell, some of the geims Zonites are sure to be found. Collect them 

 both, and put them together, say in a tin box, for a few hours. The Vitrina 

 shells will all be splendidly clean, not a fragment of the living animals will be left. 

 The Zunites will have consumed them utterly, and so have saved you doing what 

 otherwise you could never do satisfactorily. 



If for the latter, let them be turned into an aquarium and ran the risk of 

 accommodating themselves to their new home. Nothing is simpler than the 

 formation of an aquarium for snails. Purchase your glass or tauk, get some mud 

 from the bottom of a pool, let it be a couple of inches thick, then procure some 

 stones, which may be placed artistically or Hat, as preferred, then till with water. 

 But be sure to have some vegetable life, such as anacharis, chara, valisneria, &c., 

 with the animal life ; for success in an aquarium, coupled with the advantage of 

 never changing the water, depends entirely upon a proper balance or proportion of 

 these two things. 



It may be well here perhaps to notice a few of our rarer MoUusks, which 

 have been found in England, with a remark or two upon some singularities with 

 regard to them. 



Bulimus montanus is to be found sparingly, it is called by Dr. Gray in his 

 edition oi 1S57, " The Wilts Twist Shell," but there is no reason assigned for the 

 name of the county being attached to it. He nowhere else gives a similar 

 distinction to any county. Its habits are most unusual when contrasted with 



