212 



size wilh the diaieiisions given for the same species in the monographs of 

 tlie Smithsonian Institution and in other publications, accurate measure- 

 ments are given of every s;)e:>ies. 



Jlacroci/clis -concava, Scoj. — In 1883 I found this species in con- 

 siderable abundance in a thicket of prickly ash, in an open 

 space in the woods on the left shore of the Kideau, above Billings' 

 Bridge. Elsewhere it does not occur in abundance, though two or 

 three shells are not unfreqnently found together in several localities. 

 The shells fonnd under the prickly asli were V)urrowing in a strong clay 

 soil. Their preference for this situation may be owing to the fact that 

 the moisture condensed by the leafy shrub would be as abundant as in 

 the woods, and remain nearer the surface than where the mould was 

 deep, while it woukl be as little or even less subject to rapid evapora- 

 tion. M. concava is noted for its cannibalistic i)ropensities, and a 

 specimen kept with smaller species destroyed several before its opei-a- 

 tions were observed. Our shell is almost transparent and measures no 

 more than 14-5 by 123 mm. in diameter. Shells of this species re- 

 ceived from the distinguished field conchologist, Mrs.Andrews, of Knox- 

 ville, Tenn., are 22 by 18 mm. and though ''living" shells, are 

 Avhite and opaque like the *•' dead " shells found here. 



Zonites inornatus, Say. — This species was probably once common 

 on the Ontario side near this cit}', but so far as I know is not found 

 there now. On the Quebec side it is not rare. High up on the w&st- 

 erly slo]»e of King's Mountain, I found ten or twelve examples on the 

 occasion of the Club's excursion thither on May 22nd, 1884-. jM\' 

 favorite collecting ground, and the only one apart from the Laurentide.s, 

 where this species is at all common, is near Fairy Lake. If you follow 

 in a northerly direction the lidge of the hill beyond the Aylmer Road 

 toll gate, a sci*amble of a mile over rocks and through tangled woods 

 will bring you to a small brook, so hidden beneath rank growths of 

 moss and fern that but for its mu.sical fall of a few feet into a pebbly basin 

 its presence would be unnoticed. The vegetable mould in the vicinity is 

 deep, loose and moist, and in it numerous species find a congenial home. 

 I have taken in tliis locality, in the S].'ace of a few yardj!, all the large 

 helices found near Ottawa, and many of the smaller ones. The auima' 

 of Z. inornatus is bold and very active, and is colored various shades of 



