130 

 REPORT OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL BRANCH. 



To the Cotmcil of the Ottcaoa Field-Naturalists' Club : 



In presenting their report, the leaders of the conchological brancli 

 regret that during the past season they were, for reasons unnecessai'y to- 

 mention, unable to devote much time to the collection and study of the 

 mollusca of this vicinity. They have, however, to record the discovery 

 of a species new to your lists and to lay before you a few observations 

 on species already noted. 



An important addition to the Club lists has been made by Mr. W. 

 H. Harrington. With a view to obtaining very minute beetles, that 

 gentleman collected in November a quantity oi sphagnum and other 

 moss in Dow's swamp. The moss when drietl was shaken over white 

 paper, and with the insects which fell from it were found a number of 

 small shells. These he submitted to one of the leaders of this branch 

 for determination. They were found to include a number of interest- 

 ing species — some so rare as not to have been met with here except by 

 Mr. Heron, and one altogether new. This is, we consider, Patula 

 asteriscus, Morse. It is very distinctly characterized, and therefore not 

 likely to be confounded with any other species. Although not hitherto 

 known to occur in this vicinity, it has in Canada an extended eastern 

 and northern distribution, having been recorded from Gaspe and the 

 country north of Lake Superior. 



Of the other shells found by Mr. Harrington, the most worthy of 

 note are Ilyalina milium, Morse ; Fseudoliyalina exigua, Stimpson ; 

 Vertigo militim, Gould ; and V. Gouldii, Binney. 



Mr. Harrington's success shows that the process of collecting and 

 screening moss may be used with great advantage for collecting not 

 only iiisects but minute shells. 



That shells reputed to be rai-e may yet be very common is well 

 illustrated by tlie fact that Macrocyclis concava, Say, was found in May 

 last in great abundance in a prickly ash thicket on the banks of the 

 Rideau in Billings' bush. Previously but a few isolated specimens had 

 been found. 



Succinea ovads, Gould, occurred in considerable numbers on the 

 banks of the brook flowing through the beaver meadow in Hull, about 



