210 NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 
more swiftly than I could have thought possible for a Weevil, 
disappearing over the edge of the net into a tangled mass of 
vegetation below before I could secure it. Query—How did it 
know that I was dangerous, and that it would not do to feign 
death any longer when it touched the net ? A Owe 
Diplotis hyalina—MonrTacu. 
In Vol. XI., p. 203, Table XIV. of the Linnean Society’s 
Transactions (1815), that excellent Naturalist, Cot. MoNnTAGu, 
describes and figures an animal under the above name. He 
states that it is a ‘“‘ Vermis of the Order Znéeséina,” and goes on 
to say that had there been any well-authenticated account 
of any insect undergoing its transformation in the sea, its 
resemblance to an insect larve would have made him hesitate 
‘‘ as to the rank to which it should be consigned.”’ In October, 
1872, I found a small grub in decomposing sea-weed, at high 
water-mark on the shore of Colwyn Bay, which agreed perfectly 
with MonraGu’s description and figure; only the great 
Devonshire Naturalist had mistaken its head for its tail. Being 
struck by its resemblance to an insect larva, I placed it in a 
bottle with some sea-weed, and in due time a Dipterous fly was 
produced from the supposed worm. Gossz (Handbook of 
Marine Zoology, Pt. I., p. 99) places it among ‘‘ Genera imper- 
fectly characterized : apparently of Arenicolana” (Annelida. ) 
A. O. W. 
Venus Mercenaria.—LINN. AMERICAN CLAM. 
In 1883, I received from the late Mr. T. J. Moore, of 
Liverpool, a number of the above Mollusc alive which were 
placed by me in the following localities on :— 
1. The flushing-pool at Bagillt Wharf; 
2. Atthe point where the Channel leading to Bagillt 
Wharf enters the main Channel of the Dee, about 
one mile from the shore ; 
3. The Voryd, where the Chester and Holyhead Line 
crosses it at Rhyl; 
4. The shore between Colwyn Bay Station and Eirias 
Dingle. 
So far (February, 1893), there is no evidence of any having 
survived. The flushing-pool was cleaned out to the depth of 
two feet of mud about five years ago, but no sign of the Clam 
was found. Ao! W. 
SrinGING Powers oF MeEpusz. 
Of the common Jelly Fish (Aca/epha) on this coast, only two, 
viz.: Cyanea capillata and Chrysaora hyoscella appear to have 
any power.to sting a human being. The former, which is a 
