228 



An ordinary lens shewed the enamel of the shell to be 

 beset with small bristly points, and when a portion of the 

 surface was scraped off and submitted to a higher magni- 

 fying power, the forms of at least two species of Fimgi 

 became apparent, one resembling a Miicor with a globose 

 sporangium, the other, and much more common form, 

 exhibited both simple and moriliform filaments, with an 

 abundance of minute spores, seemingly quite free. After 

 having been carefully washed, the surface of the shell 

 was found to be as it were engraved in some places with 

 stelkilar marks, in others with striaj forming irregular 

 reticulations, caused no doubt in each instance by the 

 spreading mycelium of the Fungus. It is scarcely neces- 

 sary to add that attacks of this nature need not be appre- 

 hended where shells are kept in a perfectly dry or well 

 ventilated place. A slight deposition of moisture does 

 however frequently occur itpon their surfaces whilst shells 

 are undergoing examination, in which case it would be a 

 safe precaution to allow them for a while to remain 

 exposed to the air before returning the drawer to the 

 cabinet. 



This closed the ordinary business of the session. 



